The Center of Innovation and Development in Artificial Intelligence (CIADA) at Umm Al-Qura University has analyzed the tweets of some Saudi and Non-Saudi Arab patients infected with the novel coronavirus in the last three months to become acquainted with the initial symptoms they suffered. The results found that 59% of the patients experienced high temperatures, 43% experienced headaches, and 39% experienced a loss of smell while infected with the disease. However, for the Saudi patents, 59% experienced high temperatures, 42% experienced a loss of smell, and 38% suffered from headaches.

The General Supervisor of CIADA, Dr. Eissa Al-Anazi, said that analyzing the data of patients with coronavirus on Twitter or any other social media platform is very important in gaining a great understanding of the spread of the nature of virus and in building early warning systems, with the social media platforms enabling millions of people to post their symptoms on a daily basis. He added that the real-time analysis of such data provides beneficial information to the authorities responsible for coronavirus management. For example, the study found that many of the Twitter users suffered from the loss of smell last April compared to the previous months, which was one month before smell and taste senses were added to the self-assessment of the Mawid application of the Ministry of Health.

It should be mentioned here that this study comes as part of the fast track research process for COVID-19 funded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).