More than 50 pets quarantined over Covid-19

Two hamsters are among the 52 pets put in quarantine in case they had caught Covid-19. File image: Shutterstock

A total of 52 pets have been put in quarantine in Hong Kong since the Covid-19 pandemic began, officials say.



The move to place animals at risk of the virus in quarantine for 14 days came after a dog tested positive, with another two pets also coming down with the disease since then.



Lawmakers from both the opposition and pro-establishment camps raised questions in Legco on the quarantine arrangements for animals on Wednesday.



Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Dr Leung Siu-fai said so far, 33 dogs, 17 cats and two hamsters have been put into quarantine.



The facility being used, at the Hong Kong port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, has 12 separate rooms for animals to stay in, with Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department staff taking samples from them for Covid-19 tests.



The pets were deemed to be a risk of having Covid-19 after their owners were either diagnosed with the virus or were judged to be close contacts of patients.



Leung said that when the owners are discharged from hospital, they will be able to collect their pets from quarantine, but only if the animals have repeatedly tested negative for coronavirus.



Last month, officials confirmed that a cat belonging to a coronavirus patient tested positive for Covid-19. The cat was the third animal to be infected in Hong Kong, after two dogs also tested positive.



Both dogs were returned to their owners, although one of the dogs died shortly after it was released from quarantine. The cat is still being held at the quarantine facility.