We’ve all heard about the millions of people suffering with symptoms long after their COVID-19 test changed from positive to negative (maybe you’re even one of those people). In fact, more than 25% of those who contracted COVID-19 now have Long COVID – defined as having physical and/or neurological symptoms following an acute COVID infection that persist at least one month after the initial infection. But many are experiencing symptoms, including loss of taste and smell, far longer.

Now, a new study, which was published in the British Medical Association (BMJ), is narrowing down the numbers even more, finding that 5% of people who had COVID-19 are dealing with long-lasting loss of smell or taste – what many are considering a new public health crisis in and of itself.