The article below reports a study done recently at King's College in London, in an attempt to
"... identify which combination of symptoms together could best predict COVID-19 infection in individuals."It is of interest because the model that was developed
" ... features a combination of loss of smell and taste, fever, persistent cough, fatigue, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite, in which the strongest predictor is loss of smell and taste." (Boldface mine)
The article then presents data which it asserts supports this claim, and concludes toward the end that
"When combined with other symptoms, people with loss of smell and taste appear to be 3 times more likely to have contracted COVID-19 according to our data." If true, this fact could be very helpful indeed in helping people decide if symptoms they are having are indicative of COVID-19 and not something else. A fever, cough, or shortness of breath occurring separately could mean anything. If occurring together they should naturally raise suspicion. But it would seem that loss of smell and taste as well, especially early on, is sufficiently uncommon that it would be, according to the article, an especially noteworthy red flag that a COVID infection is underway.
Since the article is out of King's College, London, certainly a reputable research institution, it would seem that there might be something to this.
Such that if one is suddenly experiencing a definite loss of smell and taste, it may well be time to start considering the very serious prospect of a COVID-19 infection.
https://neurosciencenews.com/covid-19-smell-taste-16056/