southernhybrid
Contributor
Oh no! Not dogs too!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/03/05/coronavirus-dogs-cats/
A pet dog in Hong Kong has a “low-level” infection of the coronavirus that causes covid-19 in people, in what may be the first known human-to-animal transmission of the novel coronavirus that has sickened more than 90,000 people worldwide.
The case has raised the specter that dogs might be swept into the epidemic, which, even now, public health officials say does not appear to infect or be spread by pets. But experts say much remains unknown about the dog’s infection, including whether it causes disease in dogs, and they emphasized the lone case is not yet cause for alarm or reassessments about interactions with pets.
The dog is owned by a person who was hospitalized with covid-19, and it has been quarantined since Feb. 26, according to Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The department said last week that the dog’s “weak positive” test results, from nasal and oral swabs, might have been the result of “environmental contamination,” not infection. But positive tests since then suggest the dog does have a low-level of infection, the department said Wednesday. The animal has shown no symptoms, and a second dog under quarantine in the same facility has tested negative for the virus, the department said.
That's it. I'm making my dogs do a 20 second paw scrub whenever they go outside.
On a more serious note, it's going to be impossible to do all the things that are suggested. I just went out for lunch. The restaurant is usually packed at 12, but today it was half as busy as usual. I washed my hands before and after I ate. I used a napkin when I needed to touch my face. I used a paper towel to open the rest room door and turn off the water faucet handles. I'd be happy to just hibernate inside, other than when we need groceries. I do feel bad for the local restaurant owners and staff if people are going to stop eating meals out.
I have long already used the paper towel technique at public restrooms, but now I'm considering not eating out at all anymore. Maybe I'm panicking, though I will still let my dog deep kiss me.
I'm starting to feel the same way. We ate out for lunch yesterday and the place where we went is usually packed, but it was less than half full. My neighbor is taking. us out to lunch today as thanks for all the things we do for her. The place where we're going is never crowded, so hopefully, nobody will breathe on us. I'm not really worried about myself, but my husband has mild asthma, and men seem to be getting much sicker than women who get the virus.
I might stop eating out after this weekend. My dogs can always kiss me, but no tongues. I always tell them, no tongues.