The researchers found that while those who get infected with COVID-19 do experience a loss of smell, they may not lose the perception of their smell completely. As per the study, only 4.1 per cent of the participants were unable to identify any of the five aromas present in the smell test, 38.8 per cent of them were unable to identify at least one of the aromas and 16 per cent were not able to pinpoint two odourants.

When compared to the healthy participants, all of them were able to smell the aromas used in the smell test, even though 14 per cent of the healthy volunteers were unable to correctly identify at least one of the smell.