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​TikToker Shows How Extreme Coronavirus Taste Loss Symptom Can Be

​TikToker Shows How Extreme Coronavirus Taste Loss Symptom Can Be

He was diagnosed with the virus a few days ago, and decided to use the time in isolation to film himself eating ‘nasty stuff'

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A TikToker has showed just how extreme the strange coronavirus taste loss symptom can be, sharing a series of videos on the platform so that others can see what it's like.

Russell Donnelly (@rustardlikemustard), 30, was diagnosed with the virus a few days ago, and decided to use the time in isolation to film himself eating 'nasty stuff' like raw onion and garlic and posting the footage on TikTok.

In a video that's had more than 13 million views, he says: "I am currently Covid-positive and I can't taste anything. Everyone keeps telling me to try and eat some nasty stuff but I don't have any nasty stuff in my house, so I figured I'd just eat some stuff that would be strong or pungent, just to see what it's like."

Taking a big bite out of a raw red onion, Donnelly says he tastes 'nothing', although later finds it work its way up to his sinuses, adding: "That one hurt!"

As for a shot of lemon juice? Also nothing - as proves to be the case with garlic paste.

TikTok/@rustardlikemustard

"This is a crazy virus," Donnelly says to the camera.

In follow-up video, he brushes his teeth before drinking orange juice, bites on the 'onion from two days ago' and chases all that up with some balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar and a chunk of raw lemon.

A third clip also sees him taste an Oreo that's been spiked with a dollop of wasabi in the middle.

While he didn't taste the two layers of wasabi inside the biscuit, his body sure felt them.

"I can definitely feel that," he says, wincing.

"Still no flavour in the mouth though."

TikTok/@rustardlikemustard

Donnelly, a bartender and aspiring actor based in Jersey City, New Jersey, told BuzzFeed that loss of taste and smell are the only symptoms he's experienced.

He told BuzzFeed: "Other than that, I'm 100%.

"This second wave is no joke and I'm one of the lucky ones, to be honest."

He added: "The onion I could feel a little bit in the sinuses, but mostly nothing.

"Garlic paste was the easiest. I did lemon juice a couple times actually, and if I hold it in my mouth for an extended period of time, my mouth kinda shrivels up like it does when you taste something sour, but there is no flavour.

"The body still reacts chemically. It's just like the taste buds are turned off."

You can follow Donnelly at tiktok.com/@rustardlikemustard.

Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@rustardlikemustard

Topics: Viral, World News, News, Coronavirus, US News, tiktok