Loss of smell or taste added to list of coronavirus symptoms

Loss of smell or taste have been added to the UK’s list of coronavirus symptoms.

People with these symptoms, known medically as anosmia, are advised to self-isolate.

Anosmia has already been classed as a symptom of Covid-19 by other countries, including the United States, which has the highest number of virus cases and deaths in the world.

Other symptoms people are urged to self-isolate with are a continuous cough or a fever.

A statement released by the chief medical officers for Wales (Dr Frank Atherton), England, Northern Ireland and Scotland said: “We have been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on Covid-19 and, after thorough consideration, we are now confident enough to recommend this new measure.

“The individual’s households should also self-isolate for 14 days as per the current guidelines and the individual should stay at home for seven days or longer if they still have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell.”

As of Sunday, May 17, 12,304 cases had been reported in Wales, with a reported 1,203 people dying having tested positive for coronavirus.

In Caerphilly County Borough, there have been 641 confirmed cases, with the first confirmed case announced in the borough on March 11.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has had 2,381 confirmed cases, with 259 deaths.

Across the UK, the number of confirmed cases is 243,303, with 34,636 reported deaths – the highest in Europe and the second highest in the world.