The following seven symptoms were jointly predictive of a positive PCR test: loss or change of smell, loss or change of taste, fever, new persistent cough, chills, appetite loss and muscle aches.

Rapidly detecting who is infected with SARS-CoV-2 is key to preventing further onward transmission of the virus and, with testing capacity limited, it is important to use COVID-19 tests in the most efficient way possible. This means knowing which of the many symptoms people may experience are predictive of COVID-19, rather than a cold or flu.

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