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As more anecdotes surface from physicians around the world about patients with COVID-19 losing their senses of smell and taste, we asked , Ph.D, director of the , located within , what science can tell us about the potential link 鈥� and what to do if it happens to you.

So far, the stories are just stories.

鈥淲hile I think these reports are real, there鈥檚 no data at this point to say that it鈥檚 unique to COVID-19,鈥� Munger says. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e probably experienced a lowered sense of taste and smell when you have a cold.鈥� With only anecdotal evidence, it鈥檚 hard to tell if the symptoms experienced by COVID-19 patients are the same kind of temporary loss, possibly caused by congestion or inflammation, or something different.

That said, don鈥檛 ignore a loss of smell or taste.

If you suddenly feel like you can鈥檛 smell or taste, 鈥渢he prudent thing to do is self-isolate and immediately call your physician, or one of the various hotlines set up for reporting COVID-19,鈥� Munger says. 鈥淎ct like you鈥檙e infected until directed otherwise by your physician.鈥�

Smell and taste scientists are on it.

While you normally don鈥檛 hear much about them, non-COVID-19 taste and smell deficiencies are fairly common: 13% of U.S. adults over 40 have a significant smell disorder. In the past few days, scientists and clinicians around the world who study smell and taste have banded together to fast-track gathering data on the phenomenon as related to COVID-19 and to develop tests patients can do at home.

Once we know more, it could be a useful indicator.

鈥淚t could be as simple as scratch-and-sniff tests sent to homes that people take themselves and report to their physician,鈥� Munger says. 鈥淚t might be a useful and safe way, along with other symptoms like body temperature and coughing, to get a better understanding of who should be tested for COVID-19.鈥�