Even though the nasal passage is not blocked, the presence of a coronavirus type virus triggers the olefactory cells to not send any signals back to the brain, resulting in no smell.
This is similar to losing your appetite when sick, 90% mental and if someone can motivate and push you to eat as long as it is something clean that you can keep down, you'll be better for it as opposed to listening to your mind and simply not eating.
The word is "psychosomatic"
Even though the nasal passage is not blocked, the presence of a coronavirus type virus triggers the olefactory cells to not send any signals back to the brain, resulting in no smell.
This is similar to losing your appetite when sick, 90% mental and if someone can motivate and push you to eat as long as it is something clean that you can keep down, you'll be better for it as opposed to listening to your mind and simply not eating.