DUNE SEA , TATOOINE — A rancor privately owned by Jabba Desilijic Tiure of Tatooine has tested positive for COVID-19. The animal reportedly developed a dry cough before receiving a test. The Imperial Department of Agriculture’s Galactic Veterinary Services Laboratories reported that the rancor, named Pateesa, is thought to be the first animal known to be infected with the virus in the Outer Rim.

The IDA expects Pateesa to fully recover, and believes that the beast likely contracted the virus via an infected caretaker under the crime lord’s employ.

According to palace employees, Pateesa’s age is unknown but the Hutt received it as a gift for his birthday. The rancor wasn’t the only one to develop the dry cough — a Kowakian monkey-lizard, two lothcats, and three Nexu also exhibited the symptoms.

Kowakian monkey-lizard displaying its dry cough.

The IDA reports that because the animals must be put under general anesthesia in order to receive the test, the palace’s veterinarian opted out of testing the other affected animals.

Jabba the Hutt, center, with girlfriend Oola and pet Kowakian monkey-lizard Salacious B. Crumb.

In a statement, the crime lord said via translator droid, “We tested the rancor out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the galaxy’s continuing understanding of the coronavirus. Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the animals here at my palace are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers.”

The statement continued, “It is not known how this disease will develop in our pets since different species can react differently to infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries.”

Jabba’s palace Chief Veterinarian and rancor keeper Malakili said that Tatooine residents should not be concerned about a rancor receiving a COVID-19 test while the rest of the Outer Rim struggles during a shortage of such tests.

“The COVID-19 testing that was performed on our rancor Pateesa was performed in a veterinary school laboratory, and is not the same test as is used for humans and other human-like species. You cannot send human and near-human samples to the veterinary laboratory, and you cannot send animal tests to the human laboratories, so there is no competition for testing between these very different situations.” –Malakili, rancor keeper and chief veterinarian of Jabba’s Palace

We will continue to report on COVID-19 as it spreads throughout the Outer Rim and other galactic territories.

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