NEWS USA TODAY ❚ FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ❚ 3D
The claim: Pets don’t spread the coronavirus
Several Facebook posts have circulated in recent
days claiming that pet owners are dropping off their
pets at shelters in fear the animals could spread the
coronavirus.
One post from a Facebook page called “Santa Paws
Little Helper” had more than 265,000 shares as of
Monday. It has since been taken down.
“Pets carry no threat and do not spread the virus,”
the post said. “Fake news is causing stupid people to
drop off pets at shelters.”
In the post’s comment section, the page pointed to
guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and
Protection as saying there is no known reason to be-
lieve that pets can spread COVID-19, the respiratory
disease caused by the virus, in the United States.
A message to the Facebook page seeking more in-
formation was not returned.
What experts know about coronavirus in pets
This novel coronavirus belongs to a family of virus-
es, some of which cause illness in people and some of
which affect certain types of animals, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers have linked the novel coronavirus’ ori-
gin to a live animal market in Wuhan, China. It’s be-
lieved to have animal origins, possibly in bats. But the
CDC’s website states there is no evidence that com-
panion animals can spread the virus.
So far, two dogs have tested positive for the virus,
both in Hong Kong. According to the World Organisa-
tion for Animal Health, the canines became infected
after “close exposure” to owners sick with the disease.
But the organization reports there is no evidence that
dogs have shown any clinical signs of the virus or that
they have played a role in its spread.
The CDC’s website states the agency has also not
received reports of pets or other animals becoming
sick with COVID-19. IDEXX Laboratories, a veterinary
diagnostic company, reported on March 13 that it had
evaluated thousands of cats and dogs while validating
a new veterinary test system for the virus and had seen
“no positive results” of the novel coronavirus.
Health experts have not ruled out the possibility of
animals’ bodies serving as “fomites,” or surfaces that
virus particles can land on and be transmitted by
touch – for example, if someone sneezed on their
pet’s fur and another person immediately touched
the same spot. But porous and fibrous surfaces like
pet fur are less likely to transmit the virus than hard
surfaces, according to the veterinary association.
Preston Moore, Iowa state director for the Hu-
mane Society of the United States, said his organiza-
tion is recommending, as a precaution, that pets get a
bath when they’re sent home from an animal shelter.Are shelters seeing an influx of pets because
owners are afraid they’ll spread the virus?Moore said it’s too early to tell whether there has
been an overall increase or decrease in animal sur-
renders because of the virus. Other animal groups
agree there is not yet a widespread proof of animal
shelters inundated with pet drop-offs.
Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the Amer-
ican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
said the group’s adoption center in New York City, the
place that has so far been hit the hardest by the virus,
has not seen an increase in stray intakes or in owners
bringing in pets for virus-related reasons.
In Washington, the first state to report a case of
coronavirus, a representative with Seattle’s joint in-
formation center said in an email that the city is “not
aware of owner concerns regarding pets catching the
virus.” The city has not reported a significant in-
crease of animals dropped off, although nearly 50%
fewer pets have been adopted this month. The city is
preparing for an influx as the outbreak continues.
Dr. Warren Hess, assistant director of the Division
of Animal and Public Health at the American Veteri-
nary Medical Association, said pet owners should
enjoy their animals rather than worry about them
catching or spreading the virus, pointing to how ani-
mals can be a comfort to those under stress. “Animals
are not part of the problem during this COVID emer-
gency, but they might be part of the solution,” he said.Our ruling: TrueHealth professionals agree there is no evidence
that pets can contract the coronavirus in a way that
makes them sick.
Despite more than 450,000 reported cases around
the world, veterinary experts say they have no reason
to believe the coronavirus can spread from an infect-
ed pet to a human, or that pets have become sick be-
cause of the disease. And multiple animal organiza-
tions say they’re unaware of a widespread trend in
owners surrendering their animals at shelters in fear
they can spread the virus.USA TODAY FACT CHECK
Social media posts have claimed that people are afraid their pets could spread the coronavirus. GETTY IMAGES
Experts say pets won’t
spread the coronavirus
Reports of widespread boarding
of animals in fear unfounded
Ian Richardson USA TODAY
At least 13 patients died in 24 hours at one hospital
in New York City, currently the epicenter of the U.S.
outbreak. Elmhurst Hospital, part of the city’s public
hospital system, said the 13 deaths were consistent
with the number of intensive care unit patients the
hospital was treating at the time.
The deaths occurred from Tuesday to Wednesday
at the Queens hospital. The city has confirmed over
20,011 cases, leading to 280 deaths. “Elmhurst is at
the center of this crisis,” hospital spokesperson
Christopher Miller said. “It’s the No. 1 priority of our
public hospital system right now.”- Ryan W. Miller
2-month-old in Tennessee tests positive
for COVID-19, shows mild symptomsA 2-month-old who has tested positive for
COVID-19 in Nashville could be the youngest pan-
demic patient in the nation, officials say. City health
officials said metro Nashville had 36 new cases in 24
hours. Alex Jahangir, the city’s coronavirus task
force chair, said the infant has mild symptoms and is
home “doing well.”
Children appear to be at lower risk for the harshest
effects of COVID-19 than adults, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but they
are not immune to the disease. Children have gener-
ally presented mild symptoms, the CDC reports, such
as fever, runny nose and cough. Vomiting and diar-
rhea have also been reported.- Yihyun Jeong
Tesla aims to make ventilators soon;
Bauer turns to gear for medical professionalsTesla CEO Elon Musk said the company’s solar-
panel factory in Buffalo, New York, hopes to begin
ventilator production “as soon as humanly possible.”
Musk tweeted that “we will do anything in our power
to help the citizens of New York.” New York actually
invested $750 million to help build the plant. Cuomo
said the state, which has about 12,000 ventilators,
may need as many as 40,000 in the next few weeks
as the coronavirus outbreak races toward its peak in
the state.
And Bauer, a hockey equipment manufacturing
company, said it has shifted its focus to make prod-
ucts like masks and shields for medical profession-
als.- Joseph Spector and Chris Bumbaca
WHO: World ‘squandered first window
of opportunity’ to curb outbreakWorld Health Organization Director General Te-
dros Adhanom Ghebreyesus scolded world leaders
for wasting precious time in the fight against the vi-
rus.
He called it “public enemy No. 1” and asked coun-
tries to follow a series of protocols, including expand-
ing training and deployment of health care workers.
“The time to act was actually more than a month
ago or two months ago,” he said. “We squandered the
first window of opportunity ... this is a second oppor-
tunity, which we should not squander and do every-
thing to suppress and control this virus.”China temporarily closes its borders to
foreigners to keep out imported casesChina temporarily barred most foreigners from
entering the country as it seeks to curb the number of
imported coronavirus cases. The foreign ministry
said even foreign citizens with residence permits will
be prevented from entering starting Saturday. Diplo-
matic workers will be exempt, and foreign citizens
coming to China for “necessary economic, trade, sci-
entific or technological activities or out of emergency
humanitarian needs” can still apply for visas. Most
countries have halted or severely curbed interna-
tional travelers in a bid to curb the pandemic.
The coronavirus emerged in China late last year
before spreading around the globe. The outbreak in
China has been largely controlled, however, and life
has been returning to normal across the country.
Contributing: The Associated PressCORONAVIRUS NEWS BRIEFING
13 die in 24
hours in one
NYC hospital
Oversaturated with Netflix and frus-
trated by their home detention, our
daughters, Isla, 7, and Elle, 9, were run-
ning out of things to do and constantly
squabbling.
Then a lifeline popped into our inbox:
The parents of one of Isla’s friends sug-
gested a Zoom chat with five of Isla’s
second-grade friends to play a few
rounds of virtual "Hangman." I was fa-
miliar with grown-ups using Zoom for
work meetings while isolated but hadn’t
thought of using it as a virtual playdate
for the kids. We set up Zoom on our iPad
and, at the agreed-upon time, everyone
dialed into the video meeting.
At first, silence. Six cute 7-year-old
faces sat giggling at their friends’ faces
on the screen, unsure where to begin.
“Hi,” Isla said tentatively, breaking
the silence.
“Hi,” one of her friends answered.
More silence. Someone remembered
they were supposed to play "Hangman,"
so one of the girls came up with a four-
letter clue with “V” in the third space.
But after several rounds of yelling letters
and answers at screens, no one was able
to come up with the answer (“LOVE”).
They got quickly bored with the
game, but now their instinctual chatti-
ness kicked in and the conversation got
rolling. They played “Guess What Part of
My House I’m In?” then went around
the horn and listed their favorite Netflix
shows. (“Victorious,” “Bunk’d” and “Liv
& Maddie” were crowd favorites.) Theytalked about upcoming school field trips
and Disney zombie shows.
Isla moved her video chat to her
room, which she toured for her friends,
showing them her new flower-dotted
comforter and “Never Grow Up” throw
pillow. They all introduced their favorite
stuffed animals. The virtual playdate
moved outside to the play structure in
the yard, then back into the kitchen.
There was a round of knock-knock and
poop jokes. There were squeals and
screeches and lots of giggles.
After an hour and 10 minutes, the
girls said their goodbyes. The adults re-
claimed their devices and the screens
blinked off. The words “virus” or “pan-
demic” didn’t come up once.
Rick Jervis is a reporter for USA TO-
DAY in Austin, Texas.IN THIS TOGETHER
Cooped-up kids navigate new play space
Isla Jervis, 7, chats with friends in
Austin, Texas via a Zoom chat during
self-isolation amid the coronavirus
pandemic. RICK JERVIS/USA TODAYRick Jervis
USA TODAY