US and British medical experts: Anosmia is an important symptom of a novel coronavirus infection.

Anosmia is an important symptom of a novel coronavirus infection and the patients with it should be considered for "self-isolation and testing," the otolaryngological association said in a statement. The American society of otolaryngological head and neck surgery (AAO-HNS) also recommends that anosmia and taste disorders be included in the screening list for novel coronavirus. 'there is new evidence that anosmia is a symptom of COVID 19 infection,' Claire Hopkins, chairman of the British Rhinological Society, and Nirmal Kumar, chairman of ENT UK, said in a joint statement on ENT UK's website on March 21. "There is ample evidence of anosmia and hyposmia in a large number of confirmed novel coronavirus infections in Korea, China and Italy." Anosmia occurs in more than two-thirds of confirmed cases in Germany, the statement said. In Korea, where novel coronavirus testing is more common, anosmia is the main symptom (all mild cases) in 30% of positive patients.