Home » Health » Seoul to test pets for free for COVID-19 | World

Seoul to test pets for free for COVID-19 | World

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – The South Korean capital will test dogs and cats free for coronavirus if they come into contact with infected humans and show symptoms.

Pets found to be infected will have to quarantine for 14 days at home or at a municipal center, local official Park Yoo-mi said in an online briefing.

The central government last week released recommendations on testing pets for the virus after a cat in the southeastern city of Jinju became the country’s first animal with a confirmed COVID-19 infection. The cat belongs to a mother and daughter who were among dozens of confirmed patients associated with a religious center in Jinju.

Authorities are ready to do free pet testing starting Monday, Park said.

There is no evidence that animals spread the virus to humans, according to Seoul officials. The authorities will test pets, and not all animals, because they are those that live in close contact with people.

Other municipalities planned to launch similar programs in line with the recommendations of the central government.

New confirmed cases in South Korea on Monday fell below 300 for the first time in more than two months, as authorities slightly relaxed harsh social distancing rules. The permitted hours of restaurants, coffee shops, indoor gyms and other facilities outside the populous Seoul metropolitan region were extended by one hour.

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