Almost 60 per cent of patients who were subsequently confirmed as positive for COVID-19 had reported losing their sense of smell and taste, the data analyzed by the researchers showed. Loss of taste and smell had previously been reported as a symptom that could be used for screening people for the disease. These results, which were posted online but not peer-reviewed, were much stronger in predicting a positive COVID-19 diagnosis than self-reported fever, the researchers at King's College London said. Of 1.5 million app users between March 24 and March 29, 26 per cent reported one or more symptoms through the app. Of these, 1,702 also reported having been tested for COVID-19, with 579 positive results and 1,123 negative results.

Source: CBC News April 01, 2020 12:22 UTC