Hong Kong witnessed the first human to animal transmission after a dog tested 'weak positive'. The dog's owner, a 60- year old woman had also tested positive for the virus.
The city's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said repeated tests suggest the dog – a Pomeranian – has "a low-level of infection".The AFCD said experts from universities and the World Organisation for Animal Health have unanimously agreed that "it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission".
The Pomeranian has not shown any novel coronavirus symptoms, it said.
New measures put in place by Hong Kong's government last Friday mean all pets infected with the coronavirus must be quarantined for 14 days. Two dogs are already in isolation.The other dog in quarantine belongs to a second coronavirus patient that tested negative for the virus once and will be tested again before its release.
Another study states that the animals can test positive but cannot transmit it further.
