Symptom added to CDC.gov on April 18, 2020
It’s Time to Cancel COVID-19
COVID-19 has cancelled many aspects of our daily life, but together, we will CancelCovid. Our social awareness campaign could help unintentional “silent spreaders” self-identify and self-isolate based on one unusual symptom: complete loss of sense of smell (known as anosmia). Your participation could help researchers and policymakers as they review shelter-in-place and stay-at-home measures.
Complete the
#CancelCovidSmellChallenge
You may have Coronavirus and not know it, but your nose just might.
Complete the #CancelCovidSmellChallenge
You may have Coronavirus and not know it, but your nose just might.
Step 1: Smell Something Stinky
Find something stinky at home and smell it to check if you may have complete loss of smell (anosmia). Avoid cleaning products like bleach.
Step 2: Submit Smell Results Weekly
Submit your smell results every week on CancelCovid.org regardless of whether you can or cannot smell. All results are anonymous.
Step 3: Create a Challenge Video
If you can smell, record a short and creative video of you smelling something stinky. In your video, challenge three others to participate.
Step 4: Share on Social Media
Post your video on social media, tag the three people you challenged to participate, include CancelCovid.org and the Challenge hashtag above.
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@autumnsklein Did you know the loss of smell is a sign of COVID-19? 😱 @cancelcovidorg ##couplelife ##cancelcovidsmellchallenge ##ad
♬ Kolors - Monte Booker & Smino
@thejayway1 Challenge time @oreofay ##cancelcovidsmellchallenge ##flatenthecurve ##covid19 ##learnfromme ##fyp @_withsarah @melaninmakeup
♬ original sound - thejayway1
@haueterfamily Did you know the loss of smell is a symptom of COVID-19? @cancelcovidorg ##cancelcovidsmellchallenge ##ad
♬ original sound - haueterfamily
#CancelCovidSmellChallenge
Do it for Grandma
A recent study of more than 76,000 people, found the predictive ability of loss of smell and taste to be higher than fever or persistent cough, which is in line with our previous finding that loss of smell and taste was the strongest predictor of having the virus.
85
of patients with COVID-19 reported olfactory dysfunctions, according to a European study. Loss of smell could be an indication that someone may be a Coronavirus carrier even if they don’t have a cough, fever or other typical symptoms.
Read Study”If we can get people to self-report loss of a sense of smell globally, we might be able to identify countries and regions as the outbreak starts.
Prof Claire Hopkins, BMBCh, MA FRCS(ORLHNS) DM(Oxon)President of the British Rhinological Society, Professor of Rhinology King’s College London
COVID-19 Hotspot Identified