Experts say there could be new symptoms to help detect coronavirus in patients.

A leading ear, nose and throat consultant says that a loss of taste and smell could be a sign of having COVID-19, reports Sky News.

The British Association of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT UK) say asymptomatic patients - those who don't have a high temperature or a cough - could suffer loss of smell or taste after contracting COVID-19.

It said in a statement: "Evidence from other countries that the entry point for the coronavirus is often in the eyes, nose and throat areas.

"We have also identified a new symptom (loss of sense of smell and taste) that may mean that people without other symptoms but with just the loss of this sense may have to self-isolate - again to reduce the spread of the virus."

According to Public Health England, the only symptoms that trigger self-isolation rules are a fever and a new cough.

If you develop a high temperature and/or a new and continuous cough, you should self-isolate at home for seven days.

For most people, coronavirus will be a mild illness.

If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for seven days from when your symptoms started.

if you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

For anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period.