Three pet cats that tested positive for coronavirus were put down in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, state-backed media reported, leading to a social media backlash at what some viewed as overkill in local efforts to contain the virus.
The cats belong to a confirmed Covid-19 patient living in Harbin. The woman, surnamed Liu, contracted coronavirus on September 21 and was admitted to the hospital, leaving her cats at home with ample food and water, and community workers helped care for them.
On Monday, she received a notice from the community workers that her cats had tested positive for the virus.
“Because there was no prior example of treating the cats, they want to euthanise the cats and wanted me to give them a written authorisation, I did not agree,” she said, adding that she wanted them to receive treatment.
On Tuesday, the community workers said there’s no professional treatment available for animals and they told Liu the cats would be euthanised.
“If the environment is positive, then she cannot move back and the whole residential area could not move back, the outbreak will never end,” the worker said.
