Loss of taste, smell may be added as eligibility criteria for COVID-19 testing

New Delhi, June 11: The government is considering to expand the eligibility criteria for COVID-19 testing. The government may include loss of smell and taste as additional criteria for COVID-19 testing.

A report in the Hindustan Times, citing officials said that the issue was brought up in the Indian Council of Medical Research constituted national task force on COVID-related matters because several cases have been reported where the patients showed a loss of smell or taste.

This was in discussion as there were some who were of the opinion that this could be looked at too, the report further said. However, a decision has not been taken as yet.

The first set of criteria for testing was fixed in January and it included fever, cough and breathlessness as symptoms for COVID-19. Later, gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhoea or vomiting were also included in May.