In this subset , we find that loss of smell and taste were present in 59 % of COVID - 19 positive individuals compared to 18 % of those negative to the test , yielding an odds ratio ( OR ) of COVID - 19 diagnosis of OR [ 95 % CI ] = 6 . 59 [ 5 . 25 ; 8 . 27 ] , P = 1 . 90x