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LOSS OF SENSE of smell and taste could be the best way to tell whether you have Covid-19, researchers have said.
Scientists at King’s College London have been tracking symptoms via their specially-created app.
By 31 March, the Covid Symptom Tracker App had more than 1.8 million users sign up to log their symptoms, or lack thereof, daily.
Some 59% of the 1.5 million people who had signed up by 29 March and tested positive reported a loss of smell and taste, compared with 18% of those who tested negative, analysis of the data showed.
Researchers said the reports of those symptoms were much stronger in predicting a positive Covid-19 diagnosis than self-reported fever.
The team behind the app has now created a model featuring a combination of symptoms, including loss of smell and taste, fever, persistent cough, fatigue, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite, and said the strongest predictor is loss of smell and taste.
Commonly accepted symptoms of the respiratory disease include a fever, which NHS England says is usually a temperature of 38C or above, tiredness and a dry cough.
Under current UK Government guidance people are advised to self-isolate if they have a new continuous cough and/or high temperature.
Similar measures are in place in Ireland. If you develop symptoms of coronavirus in Ireland, you will need to self-isolate and phone your GP.
The GP will assess you over the phone. If they think you need to be tested for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), they will arrange a test.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says other symptoms can include shortness of breath, aches and pains, and a sore throat.
Some people have also reported a loss of taste and/or smell, as well as abdominal pains.
Last week the WHO’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove said there had been “quite a few” reports about people in the early stages of disease maybe losing sense of smell or taste but added “this is something that we need to look in to, to really capture to see whether this is one of the signs of Covid-19″.
Lead researcher Professor Tim Spector from King’s College, said: “When combined with other symptoms, people with loss of smell and taste appear to be three times more likely to have contracted Covid-19 according to our data, and should therefore self-isolate for seven days to reduce the spread of the disease.”
He said their research is helping to track where the virus is, before the effects are felt by the NHS, and encouraged people to continue or start logging their symptoms, even if they feel well.
Spector said the data “gives us an evolving map of the UK of where symptoms are occurring two to three weeks before a strain on the NHS, which is why it’s vital to continue logging your health and symptoms, even when you feel completely healthy, and encourage others to use the app”.
The app has been developed by a King’s College London team in association with the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and a healthcare start-up ZOE Global Limited.
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Remember kids, D’s get degrees.
@Sean Fahey: superb, thanks Sean
@Sean Fahey: and Fs?
@Sean Fahey: I got E lol
@Optimus Prime: Remember Bill Gates,when he said he didn’t pass all subjects in his exams, his friend did and became an engineer,working for Microsoft, Bill just owned the company.
@Honeybee: Now Bill’s a world leading virus expert
@lelookcoco: I believe he’s anti virus now.
@Sean Fahey: I got dismal, but when there are questions are about the 2nd best or 3rd largest/smallest, it’s just click bait and yes, I clicked with the best of them..
@Optimus Prime: F all
@Sean Fahey: and AS get honours degrees
I left school at 12 went back when I was 24 did my junior cert and was taught by the most amazing lady ever sandy you are one in a million i got 6 right not bad for me
@Marty Lawless: fair play, takes a lot more to do that when you are older, but it’s also more rewarding….great stuff
@Marty Lawless: that was some lie-in.
Only joking, fair play Marty.
@Dan: just to let you know I was a junkie at 12 to 17 and got free from it I couldn’t read nor write but this remarkable lady called sandy from sligo kept pushing me on telling me that I was able for more my life meant more I owe this lady so much I’m drug free years now and I can read and write
@Marty Lawless: that’s just genuinely superb. Well done dude and keep it up.
@Marty Lawless: That is so good, Marty. You are a great example to the people who write off anybody who has had difficulty in their life. Your post is more literate than 90% of the people on this forum. Keep it up; you’re a winner!
@Marty Lawless: Give yourself a pat on the back as well, Marty. She was fantastic but you supplied both ability and motivation!
Correction:
The County Town of Waterford is Waterford not Dungarvan
@Micheál:
Phil Hogan amalgamated the City and County in 2015
@Micheál: Thanks
@Micheál: are you by any chance an avid south Kilkenny person that calls Waterford a town and Kilkenny a city!!
@Micheál: Waterford is a City not a town
I got the Lough Allen question correct, but Galway which is in Connaught has a shoreline on Lough Derg in around Portumna.
@Val Doyle: I might just point out that it’s Connacht and not Connaught as stated in the quiz.
@Val Doyle: shuddup val ya bleedin lick
@Val Doyle: With the positioning of the lakes in the question, I would say it’s Lough Derg in Donegal.
@Val Doyle: and lough derg is in Connacht ,unless they moved it ?
@Aonghus OReilly: Mind your manners. Val is right. ‘Connaught’ is the British colonial spelling. Were you in the RIC?
Why is Dungarvan the county town of Waterford – when the Council offices are in Waterford?
@Grainnewhale: cos it is, that’s why.
@Grainnewhale:
Dungarvan has blaagin’ rights on that one, Grainne!
@Grainnewhale: Waterford’s a city.
got them all wrong!
@Pauline Gallagher: it’s ok. Me too.
@Pauline Gallagher: Don’t worry Pauline, horses for courses as my mother used to tell me and remember strong people don’t put people down,they lift them up .If you didn’t get them right first time round..you’re normal, try again and I bet you get an A.
Second biggest county is Cork 7500 sq km. Galway is 6149 sq km. So The answer Galway is wrong.
@Bob Dalchan: Cork is the biggest county
@Bob Dalchan: 2nd biggest was the question. That is why you got an F..hahahha.
@Bob Dalchan: OMG are you for real?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish_counties_by_area
@Mary O’ Shea: I selected cork and it showed Red. Galway simultaneously went green.
@Bob Dalchan: that’s because Cork is the biggest and galway second and the question was the second biggest
@Bob Dalchan: because galway is the right answer. It’s the second biggest. Cork is the biggest. You just misread the question.
@Bob Dalchan: always take your time and read the question!!!
@Mary O’ Shea: Donegal is the biggest
@Aaron Jones: only 4th I’m afraid!
@Joe Kennedy: since when?
@Joe Kennedy: na Donegal is the biggest county and Galway 2nd then Cork
@Bob Dalchan: yes, the second biggest county is Mayo or it was when I was going to school. Maybe Galway is after leaking a bit into Roscommon, all that flooding etc
@HuffnPuff: cork is the biggest county in Ireland now use to Donegal was it not?
@Joe Kennedy: your right:-/
@HuffnPuff: well it’s 3rd now so it must have shrunk since you were in school! Maybe some of it fell into the sea there up around Belmullet?! Wild country up there!
@Bob Dalchan: My mistake! Read the question wrong. I’ll stick to geography of the Caribbean.
@Aaron Jones: Donegal is only the biggest county when the tide is out
@Optimus Prime:
I opted for Tyrone. …but it wasn’t there
@Frank Dwyer:
Nice one Frank!
@Bob Dalchan: cork is the biggest,galway 2nd,thats what was bet into us ?
@Gerry Campbell: I thought donegal was the biggest for years and years done a wee google nearly fall of me chair when the answer came back it wasn’t to be!
@Frank Dwyer: yeah really so the biggest county differs on the tide interesting fact mmmmm
Primary school? are ye bleedin messin’ bud? Ah here….
Don’t feel bad folks I’m a mechanical engineer but according to this quiz I’m a bit of a dim wit. I’m actually happy with a two Haha.
5/10 Brother Carberry would have cut fcuk out of me for that.
@Patrick Agnew: Br. Patrick would have given me a kick in the whole 7/10
@Patrick Agnew: what would he do if you got them all right?
@Dizzy: better than a fist
@Macus Mc Mahon: ignored you
Woeful spelling of Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr
Share the results with friends,,,, Not a chance
Everyone should be given full marks
Spelled Connacht wrong twice.
@Paddy Reid: it’s TheJournal. Beyond the M50 may as well be Khartoum for all they know or care.
It’s like been a teenager again, got a E
@: how much?
5.. that’s all I need.
B, not too shabby for someone who left Primary in 1977
@AA Brady: your no spring chicken
@Aaron Jones: shurrup, ya wee pup
@Aaron Jones: Maybe not,but I know the correct use of your/you’re, ya pup
@AA Brady: I left primary in 1976 and got a B also, I did better than you really on age grounds but I’m not boasting.
@AA Brady: yeah I see that!
Last one was way to easy. Come on, who the hell would want to live in Leitrim
@Alan Lynch: me! I would. Lived there for 7 months. Would love to go back.
@Alan Lynch: Would live there in a heartbeat. One of the most beautiful places on earth and filled with equally beautiful people.
Malin not loop head is the most northern point in Ireland
@CoraG: true the tide most of been out tho,I call for this competition to be null and void
35 years ago and still got 6 yeppe
Bonus point for the writer of the article: What is the correct spelling of Connacht?
5 outa 10 a D
I got a B. 7 of 10. I expected 5. So im happy
Great idea
not irish, got 3/10 but most of this knowledge is useless anyway once you leave school
@Soeren Kuehling: yes, knowledge in general is useless Soeren!! And no value whatsoever in knowing the geography of one’s own country!
Oh you’re welcome Gráinne!
just got the Dublin 1s right didn’t know there was anything outside Dublin. I thought the roads just stopped once they got outside the big capital
That is incorrect, Lough Derg opens at Portumna
County Athlone wasn’t on the list!!
5/10, got half of them wrong!
When I was in primary school, Loop Head was in Co. Clare… I suppose they must have moved it…
@Colm de Cleir: aaggh sorry about the dupe, it looked like it didn’t work the first time
When I was in primary school, Loop Head was in Co. Clare…. I suppose they must have moved it or something…
Zero.
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