Hong Kong Pet Testing
While in many countries, there are not enough coronavirus tests available for essential health care workers to be tested, in Hong Kong they are testing people's pets. WHO says that pets can not transmit the disease, so why are they testing them, when there are not enough tests to go around for human beings ?

Pet Cat Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Hong Kong
01/04/20 22:52
HONG KONG, March 31 (CNA) - A pet cat has tested positive for the coronavirus in Hong Kong after its owner was confirmed with having the virus, the city's Agricultural and Fisheries department said, cautioning that the animal has not shown any signs of the disease.

In a notice late on Tuesday (Mar 31), the department said there is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and owners should not abandon their pets.

The World Health Organization also states on their website that there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19.

The cat is the third animal to test positive in Hong Kong, following earlier cases in which two dogs tested weak positive or positive during repeated tests for the virus. Authorities said the cat will continue to be monitored and examined.

Samples collected from the cat's mouth, nose and rectum tested positive for the virus after it was sent to quarantine on Mar 30.
FRESH NEWS

newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:26 am

BawBawFett wrote:A worldwide shortage of kits to test humans, yet they test a cat?

There is a worldwide shortage of money, yet some people (and their pets) live very well. After all, some (not most Khmer) consider pets to be their family or children. And one would do anything for their ‘baby’. Including making sure their baby was tested for the virus. Multiple times. No matter the cost.

Now back to the reality zone of shelter in place (lockdown) blues.

Shortage of money? There has never been so much money available as today. And the printers are still running non-stop.

April 9, 2020 / 5:16 AM / Updated 2 hours ago
Cats can catch coronavirus, study finds, prompting WHO investigation
Saumya Joseph

4 Min Read

(Reuters) - Cats can become infected with the new coronavirus but dogs appear not to be vulnerable, according to a study published on Wednesday, prompting the WHO to say it will take a closer look at transmission of the virus between humans and pets.

The study, published on the website of the journal Science, found that ferrets can also become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the scientific term for the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

Dogs, chickens, pigs and ducks are not likely to catch the virus, however, the researchers found.

The study was aimed at identifying which animals are vulnerable to the virus so they can be used to test experimental vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 83,000 people worldwide since it emerged in China in December.

SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have spread from bats to humans. Except for a few reported infections in cats and dogs, there has not been strong evidence that pets can be carriers.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heal ... SKCN21Q3DJ

Pet cat diagnosed with Covid-19 in first UK case of animal infection
Feline is thought to have caught virus from its owners and experienced only mild symptoms
Jessica Elgot
Mon 27 Jul 2020 13.35 BST
A pet cat has been diagnosed with Covid-19, the first case of animal infection with coronavirus in the UK, the government has confirmed.

The feline is believed to have caught the virus from its owners, all of whom have made a full recovery.

The animal, which is said to have only experienced mild symptoms, is not believed to been involved in transmitting the disease to its owners or other humans and animals.

The UK’s chief veterinary officer, Prof Christine Middlemiss, said that there was still no evidence that pets could transmit the disease to humans. The infection was confirmed following tests at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge last Wednesday.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... t-confirms