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THE SUDDEN LOSS of taste and smell is to be added to the list of symptoms of Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed.
The loss of sense of taste, smell or both is known as anosmia and last week it was added to the list of coronavirus symptoms by health authorities in the UK.
Speaking at a briefing this evening, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan said anosmia has been reported “as a clear feature of this disease” and that the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) is expected to issue guidance on it tomorrow.
When this guidance is issued, the Department of Health will add it to the list of symptoms.
“It’s now a well-described phenomenon internationally, which is why we expect the ECDC to include it in this case definition advice tomorrow,” he said.
Holohan said there have been reports of anosmia potentially related to Covid-19 in this country but that he couldn’t put an exact figure on the number.
We do know from anecdotal reports that there have been reports of this symptom in this country, but because we haven’t tracked it, we have identified it as part of the case definition, I couldn’t give you numbers on that.
The HSE website lists a number of symptoms of Covid-19, including a cough, a fever and shortness of breath. It advises people with symptoms to self-isolate.
The loss of a sense of taste or smell has been identified as far back as late March by researchers as a symptom of Covid-19.
Holohan said Irish health experts were aware of this research but that they were awaiting formal guidance from the ECDC.
We were aware that some, particularly the UK, made this change a week ago but first of all we didn’t have ECDC guidance that suggested this particular change in the way that we’re anticipating tomorrow. But second of all, that was the week in which we were introducing testing of contacts as a new arrangement, which as I said very few countries have got in place.
“And we were communicating that to GPs and we think it’s important that in making changes, we don’t do a lot of changes all at the same time and create confusion,” he said.
Asked whether people who experience anosmia should contact a GP, Holohan said they should:
“If you’re worried about your symptoms, we’d encourage you to make contact with your GP and to do that early in the course of your symptoms. We think we can make important gains in early identification of cases and then subsequent contacts by you as an individual reporting your symptoms early.”
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Jokes aside he must know something about Boris that Boris is terrified for us to know
@Daniel Bohan: Everything you need to know is right here: https://youtu.be/GNaWPV5l4j4
The man has his finger on the button and that’s why he is in his job.
@milton friedman: He’s certainly tapped into a huge portion of the population in the UK, in tune with how they think and feel. It makes his judgement of the aftermath of this all the more bizzare. Whatever about the actual trip, his non apology afterwards was a spectacular own goal and it’s clearly not gone down well with the general public, including many people that he was in tune with.
@Cian Nolan: It’ll be quickly forgotten.
@Sylvia O’Regan: If he’d apologised I think he’d have gotten away with it but I think too many Conservative MP’s and voters are angry for this to just to blow over. Big opportunity for Starmer at the next PMQ’s.
@Daniel Bohan: lots are saying he does have something on him.
@Marcus Suridius: less of having something on him, more like Johnson knows he is absolutely clueless without him, and would be easily played out of power.
@Brynþór Patrekursson: He used to work for murdocks pet, farrage, of course he has dirt on bojo. Totally agree on clueless.
@Daniel Bohan: bonga bonga parties with trump wee gate
@milton friedman: woke up early today and watched the full video….WOW!
@Denis Reidy: Really? Tell us when he worked for ‘murdocks’ pet ‘farrage’? Do some research for God’s sake instead.
He must have some seriously compromising information on Boris. probably him and trump in a Russian hotel getting weed on
@Daniel Bohan: wowzers. Thanks for that mental image!
@Daniel Bohan: That would account for their pi55 coloured hair.
@Alan Biddulph: nah the last PM screwed a dead pigs head. This would be nothing.
@Daniel Bohan: no Kompromat in this story! Cummings masterminded Brexit by sloganeering and in your face campaigning around the clock… maniacal stuff really. He not only knows which way the wind blows, he knows what is made of!!!!
Boris putting ambition before the people that are under his care. Clearly Dominic Cummings, a mere advisor, is more important than any/every party colleague and the public.
I watched him briefly *trying* to answer questions relevant to the plans going forward with the pandemic – blustering, totally out of his depth.
I can’t imagine many having confidence in him.
@Skybloo: it’s not surprising, Boris couldn’t give a fiddler’s about anyone bar himself.
Whether he was right or wrong it’s nothing other than a media witchhunt, they thrive on drama and bad news and move on to the next misfortunate after the previous one has been dispatched.
@Charles Coughlan:
Yes, the media in UK do like a witch hunt.
But I think this is rightly upsetting people. Many did not hold the hands of their loved ones as they died because of the guidelines. People died alone. Many didn’t attend funerals of loved ones. Many children and adults didn’t receive medical treatment for chronic diseases and illness including some cancer treatments due to the guidelines. Many suffered with COVID 19 while trying to care for young children. And then an chief advisor who is instructing people what they must do, implies by his excuses and BS that they were stupid to do so. That they made the wrong interpretation of the regulations. People don’t want to live with regret or feeling like they got things wrong to the detriment of themselves or loved ones.
@Charles Coughlan:
It isn’t though is it, very simple to understand the issue but obviously is too difficult for you.
Trump like nonsense of media bias is of course silly and ridiculous.
@Skybloo: very well expressed .. it’s the actions not the words that are important and Cummins failed
37,000 people dead and 22 billion cost to UK Exchequer. Not to mention, the country is about to embark on a new economic and political life.
The media as usual are focusing on the wrong thing.
Many Labour MPs have broken the guidelines. They simply just don’t like Cummings.
@milton friedman: They don’t like unelected bureaucrats in the UK. Cummings is the epitome of that – the tail that wags the dog. Combine that with his unbelievable levels of arrogance and it’s not hard to see why he is so hated across the UK and his position is untenable.
Plenty of other figures in the UK have breached rules, true. But they’ve all apologised and many have resigned/been sacked.
This will go on until it dies down or there is a material threat to Boris’ leadership of the Tory party.
@milton friedman: Yup, when Neil Kinnocks son travelled to visit him on his birthday the Guardian went with the line that the police were more or less harassing him over something so small. But when it’s anything to do with Johnson or the Tories they flip their lids. Lost all respect for that rag when they allowed an opinion piece on Johnson which insinuated that his illness was a ‘set up’ to get public sympathy. Also with Johnson, they were up to their necks with that story about Johnson’s row with his partner, the one where the neighbours was so scared and worried for Ms Simmons safety that in their panic they accidentally rang the Guardian first instead of the police. Funnily enough, they dropped the story with no apology to Johnson when it transpired that the neighbours were pro-remain activists and one had bragged on twitter 2 days before the ‘row’ that she had bravely given Johnson the finger as he passed her near their homes. This whole Cummings thing is nothing but simmering Brexit bitterness coming to the surface again. Childish, bitter buIIshit.
@Tommy Roche: one must the apparant rantings of the press from the facts. ..the facts speak for themselves…the PM allows and even encourages his advisor to make his own rules for his own conduct….simply FACT
@Tommy Roche:
I’d usually say that your childish, bitter rant would be better placed on the Daily Mail rag, but even they agree on how damaging Cumming’s actions are.
In fact, many staunch Brexiteer MPs are looking for Cummings to resign – one Brexit MP resigned over this. So your arguement re simmering Brexit bitterness doesn’t wash.
Also, with regard you and your other paid troll friend above stating how Labour MPs didn’t abide by regulations therefore what is the fuss about Cummings? – do you not see how this lacks any intelligence?? It should go without explaining – it doesn’t matter whether you are Labour, Tory, Lib Dems, SNP, Brexiteer, Remainer – the person should be held to account, especially if you have been awarded the honour and privilege of guiding the public.
@milton friedman: You really have an agenda, don’t you Milton? Every single Cummings article…really?
@milton friedman:
Labour MPs aren’t making rules for the public to follow, Johnson and Cummings are. Except they think they don’t have to follow the rules they are setting.
Simple to understand really, surprised you don’t seem to understand it.
@milton friedman: name the Labour MPs.
@Tommy Roche: Add the pathetic Robert Peston and the insufferable Beth Rigby to The Guardian and Mirror too.
@Tommy Roche: nail on head. Compare the demonising of Cummings who the Remainer elites despise with the media scrutiny given to Stephen Kinnock, Ian Blackford, Tahir Ali, Vaughan Gething etc.
@Skybloo: someone who doesn’t share your views is a ‘paid troll’ ? And what’s with the tiresome generic bland ‘Daily Mail’ comment? Have you researched that particular organ’s recent editorial shift on Brexit? Were you aware of its Sunday counterpart’s pro Remain stance? The fundamental question here is whether a BBC correspondent is entitled to air personal viewpoints or whether the organisation is politically impartial.
Richard Nixon said once it’s not the act that gets you… it’s the cover up that will get you, Albert Reynolds once said … it’s the small things that will get you…. me thinks Boris will find out same
Hilarious to think that the BBC actually believe they have a respectable level of impartiality, any debates are not about finding solutions and agreement, they are merely designed to produce as much drama as possible under a majority left wing panel.
@Alan Currie: You must be having a laugh. BBC with majority left leaning panels? Not for Brexit. In fact anti-remain groups received a disproportionate amount of air time on current affairs programmes like Question Time.
@John R: how so?
Did he or his wife have the virus probably not
@Tony Mcgrath: how is that relevant? He clearly broke the rules.
@Connoroconner: which rule did he specifically break given that the health and safety of his child was at risk and latitude was allowed for the wellbeing of his child? His mistake was to visit another town on the pretext that he was testing his eyesight on the advice of his wife.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: He didn’t break the rules, he broken the law. How was driving 260 miles in a car witb his child when he was possibly illfor the well being of his child? In his position, he would be able to employ the services of the Govt to have his child taken care of. He did not have latitude to undertake that long distance drive. And you don’t drive 30 miles on your wifes birthday (& bring your child) to test your eyes tosee if you are fit to drive.
Stop falling for their spin. If Joe Soap had given that reason, they would have been turned back and received a fine. One if the Scientists had to resign when he travelled for some nookie (arguably just as essential for his wellbeing).
If he had just taken his medicine and walked, he could be back in in a couple months.
The blokes not even an MP. 4 labour MP’s broke the lockdown. Funny no mention of that on liberal news sites.
@Crispy Brown: Out of curiosity, how many of the 4 Labour MPs you mentioned are direct advisers to the British PM?
@Crispy Brown:
That’s a childish argument. It doesn’t make the situation any better whether Labour, Tory, Lib Dems etc … each one must be held to account. People died alone because of the regulations, didn’t receive treatment for other illnesses because of restrictions and regulations. Now they are being told that they, and other professionals, could have made all sorts of interpretations and changed the outcomes of their experiences. Cummings is the person drafting the instructions for the public in the UK during this pandemic, claiming to be in touch with the public. Instead, he has never been more out of touch.
I wonder if there will be less compliance by the public now.
@Crispy Brown:
Laughable the excuses people come up with for Cummings!!
@Metassus: that is a piss poor argument
@Crispy Brown: wordbrain?
Funny, I don’t remember Kaura Kuenssberg being replaced for breaking impartiality rules in the run up to the British general election. Must be a different set of rules for the Tories.
@Johnny 5: Absolutely. I’ve never seen a more biased reporter.
She stated facts. How is that a breach of impartiality?
It’s not what Dom knows about Boris that’s keeping him in his job. It’s what Boris knows about himself.
@Brian Farrell: Great comment!
What dirt does he have on the those in charge?
Is he anything to Summer Cummings
@Colm: NO
Glaxosmithkline have a factory. Pretty big coincidence
If only he put half as much effort in protecting nhs staff.
She is a TV news presenter not a columnist or opinion writer. It’s her job to report the news in an impartial manner and not to express her own point of view. What if Sharon Ni Bheolain opened Mondays Six-One News with the comment, “I think Leo is a right bloody hypocrite for going to the park for that picnic and not practicing proper social distancing”. That would be something akin to what Maitlis did. The fact that so many agree with her point of view is completely irrelevant.
If Dominic Cummings is a civil servant and not a politician, can it not be argued that political impartiality does not come into thw equation
There you go tell the truth and the B. B. C. don’t like it, so you get punished.
One set of rules for the haves and another one for the have nots….the fact that the BBC journalist reported this is a clear indication as to how the general public feel about their government… useless bunch of toffee pudding nosed incompetents.
@Richard Reynolds: Excellent article. Carole Cadwalladr is that rarest of breeds these days, an impeccable investigative journalist.
BBC ought to be ashamed. BBC can now be compared to FOX News, cowering before Boris like FOX cowers before Trumpton… An utter DISGRACE.
@Daniel Bohan. I must admit for about 2 or 3 seconds I thought you meant Bojo and Trump getting stoned but then I realized you meant getting hosed.
Well comrade Dom despite his Rasputin like role and being witch doctor of mass data propaganda….didn’t really convince anyone with his schoolboy smirky face.Thats the main problem..hes an incompetent Svengali..He seems to pedal theories that Russia and China attempt/attempted to use..the primary use of science in government,data manipulation,mathematicians,economic theorists..look at those countries to see how well that ll work out.He is dripping with Russian business connections..surprised he’s anywhere near government.
Censorship
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