- Hong Kong will abolish its one-year-old ban on the import of hamsters.
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) test rats for Covid-19.
- Officials said last year that about 2,000 animals would be put to death.
Later this month, Hong Kong will abolish its one-year-old ban on the import of hamsters as it eases some of the strictest Covid regulations in the whole world.
The rodents would be examined for the virus, the city’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) informed the Media.
To limit the spread of Covid, officials said last year that about 2,000 animals would be put to death.
The action was taken in response to an infection outbreak at a pet store.
Midway through January, according to an AFCD representative, the import embargo will be lifted.
“Our staff will arrange to collect samples from hamsters and other small mammals for Covid-19 testing. They can only be sold if the test results are negative,” the spokesperson said.
They continued by saying that this was due to studies showing that animals might catch the virus and spread it to people.
“If such imports are to resume the hamsters need to be handled with consideration [and] given the best care possible during transport and quarantine,” a spokesperson from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hong Kong said.
[embedpost slug=”hong-kong-scraps-most-covid-restrictions/”]
