Seoul City, South Korea to Test Pet Cats and Dogs for COVID-19, Says Report

In Seoul City, South Korea, if pet cats and dogs show symptoms they will be tested by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for COVID-19. This has been reported by the Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s representative newswire service, just on Monday, February 8, 2021.

The news agency further stated that only those cats and dogs that exhibit symptoms such as fever, coughing, breathing difficulties and increased secretion from the eyes or nose, will be tested.

It was also told that during a virtual press briefing, Park Yoo-mi, a disease control official at the city government, said that the tests will be conducted by a team of health workers, including a veterinarian, near the animal’s home.

It is not necessary for the pets to be sent into an isolation facility once tested positive of the virus, since according to Park, there is no evidence that the COVID-19 can be transmitted to humans from a pet.

If tested positive, pets will be required to quarantine for 14 days at home. However, if the pet’s owners are unable to take care of it, the animal will be taken for isolation at a city-run facility in western Seoul.

“Please keep your dogs at least 2 meters away from people and other pets when walking them, and strictly follow antivirus measures, such as wearing masks and washing hands.”

– Park Yoo-mi

Several weeks ago, South Korea has reported its first COVID-19 case which involved a pet, a kitten in the southeastern city of Jinju.

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Source: Yonhap News Agency| South Korea’s News Hub, BBC News