Hamster Positive For COVID-19 Increases: Hong Kong Prioritizes Outbreak Control, Daily Infection Record Since Pandemic

Illustration of hamster. (Wikimedia Commons/katanski)

JAKARTA - Hong Kong authorities said on Sunday, one hamster handed over to authorities by a pet owner had tested positive for COVID-19, adding to the number that had tested positive after last week 11 hamsters were infected with more than 2,200 hamsters culled while the city is struggling to contain the plague.

Last Tuesday, officials ordered the culling of hamsters from dozens of pet stores, after tracing the coronavirus outbreak to a worker at a shop, asking people to hand over anything bought on or after December 22.

While several hamsters have tested positive for the virus, this latest case is the first involving a hamster in the care of a pet owner who has tested positive.

Despite public outcry against the hamster crackdown, authorities are urging pet owners to continue giving up their little furry pets, due to the increased health risks.

"(The government) strongly advises members of the public again to hand over as soon as possible any hamsters they purchased at a local pet store on or after 22 December 2021 for humane delivery," the government said in a statement, citing Reuters January 24.

As of January 22, a total of 2,512 animals, including 2,229 hamsters, had been "humanely handed over" according to a government statement.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam previously told reporters she understood "pet owners were not happy" with the killings, but on the other hand she said the biggest priority was controlling the outbreak.

The government described the protests as "irrational". Meanwhile, thousands of people have offered to adopt unwanted hamsters, along with extermination orders.

Some scientists and veterinary authorities say there is no evidence that animals play a major role in transmitting the coronavirus to humans.

Meanwhile, officials have warned COVID-19 infections could grow exponentially in the densely populated residential area of Kwai Chung on the Kowloon peninsula, as the second building in a district of 2,000 residents was locked down on Saturday for five days.

More than 35,000 residents in more than a dozen buildings in the area have had to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing, with Carrie Lam and other senior officials visiting the area on Sunday.

Separately, Hong Kong Health Minister Sophia Chan told reporters on Sunday the city's containment strategy would continue.

To note, about 140 confirmed cases were reported as of Sunday, the highest daily number in the financial center since July 25, 2020.

Carrie Lam urged people to avoid gatherings ahead of next week's Lunar New Year holiday, to try to contain the highly contagious variant of Omicron.

To note, this situation tests Hong Kong's "zero COVID-19" strategy focused on eradicating the disease, with schools and gyms already closed, restaurants closing at 6 pm local time, air travel with many major hubs cut off or severely disrupted.