The loss or change in a person's sense of taste and smell is something that can happen to people who have had COVID-19. It's a common symptom with other viruses, including influenza, but it's happening at a much larger magnitude due to the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current estimates indicate that 20% of people with COVID-19 will experience some alteration of their sense of taste and smell.
"On top of that, about another 20% of folks will come down with some prolonged version of this that can sometimes last for several weeks to several months," says Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, a Mayo Clinic occupational medicine specialist.
