Pet owners in Hong Kong have been asked to practise good hygiene after traces of coronavirus were found on a dog

A pet dog whose owner is infected with Covid-19 has tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong.

Health chiefs said the “weak positive” did not yet amount to evidence that the virus could be transmitted to animals. The pet, which has shown no symptoms, has been put in quarantine for further tests to be carried out.

The discovery prompted the Hong Kong authorities to “strongly suggest” that pets owned by coronavirus patients be quarantined for a fortnight.

Officials from the city’s agriculture department took samples from the dog and found low levels of the virus in its mouth and nose.

The department said the dog had no symptoms and that more tests would be needed to confirm if it had indeed been infected or