Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s
government is racing to implement a new “track and trace” regime to control
COVID-19, after nearly 35,000 deaths the worst toll in Europe.
government is racing to implement a new “track and trace” regime to control
COVID-19, after nearly 35,000 deaths the worst toll in Europe.
However, Britain added a loss of
taste and smell to its list of coronavirus symptoms Monday and broadened
eligibility for tests as it seeks to prevent a second wave of cases when the
lockdown eases.
taste and smell to its list of coronavirus symptoms Monday and broadened
eligibility for tests as it seeks to prevent a second wave of cases when the
lockdown eases.
From today, all individuals
should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or
anosmia,” the chief medical officers of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern
Ireland said.
should self-isolate if they develop a new continuous cough or fever or
anosmia,” the chief medical officers of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern
Ireland said.
Anosmia is the loss or a change
in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the
two are closely linked.
in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the
two are closely linked.
A major study by King’s College
London last week found that people with a positive test result were three times
more likely to report loss of smell and taste than those who returned a
negative test.
London last week found that people with a positive test result were three times
more likely to report loss of smell and taste than those who returned a
negative test.
Report author Tim Spector said
that Public Health England’s (PHE) previous insistence on only including fever
and cough as major symptoms meant thousands of cases were missed.
that Public Health England’s (PHE) previous insistence on only including fever
and cough as major symptoms meant thousands of cases were missed.
At the government’s daily media
briefing, England’s deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, denied
this, saying anosmia was usually followed by a cough and fever and so “you
don’t miss those cases”.
briefing, England’s deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, denied
this, saying anosmia was usually followed by a cough and fever and so “you
don’t miss those cases”.
But he said it made a “small
difference” to improving diagnosis.
difference” to improving diagnosis.
The World Health Organization and
other countries including the United States also now count it as a symptom.
other countries including the United States also now count it as a symptom.
Johnson’s government also
announced that anyone over the age of five with coronavirus symptoms could be
tested, with more than 100,000 tests a day now being carried out.
announced that anyone over the age of five with coronavirus symptoms could be
tested, with more than 100,000 tests a day now being carried out.
Some 21,000 contact tracers have
been recruited to try to identify and contain local outbreaks of coronavirus,
while a mobile phone app that could be used is currently being trialled.
been recruited to try to identify and contain local outbreaks of coronavirus,
while a mobile phone app that could be used is currently being trialled.
Almost two months after a
nationwide lockdown has taken place, the death toll in Britain has slowed,
rising from 160 in the last 24 hours to 34,796.
nationwide lockdown has taken place, the death toll in Britain has slowed,
rising from 160 in the last 24 hours to 34,796.
Johnson has started calling
people back to work in England, but it is not expected that schools and stores
will be reopened until at least June 1.
people back to work in England, but it is not expected that schools and stores
will be reopened until at least June 1.
