Doesn't this behavour dpend on the settings in Tools>Options>tags>Save tags when navigating?
I would expect that the cover is only removed if you explicitely save the changes, so press Ctrl-S
What I am trying to find out: have you selected the option that navigation automatically saves or not? If you have not, then nothing is saved aas a result of navigating.
I reproduced the behaviour by following the method to reproduce, given in the original post.
It includes: "1. Enable the "Save tags when using arrow keys/single mouse click" option"
So yes, I have selected the option that navigation automatically saves.
Have you followed the steps to reproduce, given in the original post?
If so, do you get results different than reported by the OP?