Pet cats and dogs in South Korea to be tested for Covid-19

According to details, all pet cats and dogs will undergo coronavirus testing in case they show any symptoms. Only pets which will experience symptoms like fever or breathing difficulties after being exposed to human carriers will be tested for coronavirus.

Following the testing, the pet will have to isolate at home in case it turns out positive.

The decision has been taken few days after the country reported its first coronavirus case in a kitten.

The government has not made it mandatory for the owners to send their pets to an isolation facility as there is no proof that coronavirus can be spread between humans and pets.

But in case the pet's owners are seriously ill or hospitalized due to Covid-19, the pet will be taken into an isolation facility.

Earlier last month, a kitten that was found at a religious facility in the southeastern city of Jinju was reported to be infected with coronavirus. Health authorities suspected that a mother and daughter, who were staying with the kitten, had passed the virus on to the kitten as both had tested positive for coronavirus.

Experts had previously said it was highly unlikely that a dog or cat could transmit the virus to people, though research has shown that cats may be able to carry the virus and pass it on to other cats.

Although coronavirus cases in animals are rare globally but several pets have been diagnosed with coronavirus including gorillas in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, lions and tigers in the Bronx Zoo in New York and lions at Barcelona Zoo in Spain.