Longitudinal Association of COVID-19 Hospitalization and Death with Online Search for Loss of Smell or Taste

Abstract

Surveillance of COVID-19 is challenging but critical for mitigating disease, particularly if predictive of future disease burden. We report a robust multiyear lead-lag association between internet search activity for loss of smell or taste and COVID-19–associated hospitalization and deaths. These search data could help predict COVID-19 surges.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• coronavirus disease
• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• viruses
• zoonoses