Dozens Of Pets Infected With COVID-19, Government Asked To Add Animal Care Facilities

Illustration of a pet wearing a mask. (Unsplash/Stefan Heesch)

JAKARTA - As many as 89 dogs and cats have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Korea as of September, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Tuesday.

Information available to date at home and abroad suggests that animals can become infected with the virus, mostly during close contact with confirmed human patients, but the risk of animal-to-human transmission is thought to be low.

According to data submitted from the ministry to lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 55 dogs and 34 cats have been infected with COVID-19 in Ginseng Country since the pandemic began in January 2020.

Of these, 80 pets were reported to be in the capital Seoul, while three were seen in Gyeonggi Province, followed by two in Sejong City.

Under the government's quarantine policy, if owners are confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus, local authorities can test their pets if they show coronavirus-like symptoms, including fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, in collaboration with local veterinary services.

If the animal tests positive, it will be placed under mandatory 14-day quarantine under the care of a family member who has not contracted the virus.

Most local governments offer pet grooming services, for those without the ability to care for their pets.

But according to Maeng, the four provincial governments in South Korea, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, South Jeolla, and Gangwon, do not provide such services.

"The government should increase the number of facilities designated to provide pet care services for patients who are in COVID-19 treatment facilities," he said in a statement, citing the Korea Times Oct. 5.