Soon after the news of a tiger in New York’s zoo catching the Novel Coronavirus came into news, pet parents worldwide became increasingly anxious. Just when everyone was settling to the mundane yet precautionary lifestyle of this pandemic lockdown to stay away from the virus, this news went “viral”.

We were just coming out of the numerous cases of pet abandonment right before WHO made an official announcement steering pets clear of the Covid-19 virus. It is concluded that there is no evidence so far that pets can transmit covid-19 to humans. A couple of cases of animals getting infected with coronavirus have been found. But there has been no case of humans getting infected from animals.

Dr Randeep Guleria, AIIMS director told ANI, "Though coronavirus is present in both animals and humans, there is no data to suggest that pets can spread COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 is mainly from human to human."

Amidst all of this, proper safety, hygiene and care of pets are always advisable. Pet parents should follow good hygiene practices while taking care of their pets.

He further said, "Unlike the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) -- where the virus jumped from animals and became a human virus -- the novel coronavirus is now mainly a human virus and it can spread only from human to human. Chances of its spread from pets to humans are very unlikely."

"So, having pets at home is safe," he added.

Source: India Today / NDTV