Meanwhile, in China, thousands of hamsters will be executed to stop the spread of Covid-19 even though “officials said it was not clear that the virus had been transmitted to humans from the animals”:
Hong Kong will cull more than 2,000 hamsters after a pet shop worker, a customer and at least 11 hamsters tested positive for the Delta coronavirus variant. Officials said it was not clear that the virus had been transmitted to humans from the animals. https://t.co/tZkjSpXglq
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 18, 2022
Rest in peace, hamsters of Hong Kong. You will be missed:
#BREAKING: Hong Kong to eradicate all hamsters for sales. City authorities stop the import of such rodents after 11 were tested positive for COVID-19 in a pet shop in Causeway Bay. All animals from that pet shop will be “disposed of,” as well as all hamsters for sale in the city.
— Ezra Cheung (@ezracheungtoto) January 18, 2022
Hong Kong will also halt the importation of all small mammals:
Correction: The suspension of hamster import has extended to all small mammals. Meanwhile, Hong Kong authorities demand anyone who has purchased a hamster after December 22 be subject to compulsory testing for COVID-19, saying they can’t rule out animal-to-human transmissions.
— Ezra Cheung (@ezracheungtoto) January 18, 2022
Sure, blame the hamsters:
An estimated 2,000 animals will be culled after being tested for COVID-19. The decision is made after health officials reported two more human infections related to the pet store in Causeway Bay, where the owner was diagnosed with Delta infection earlier.
— Ezra Cheung (@ezracheungtoto) January 18, 2022
They’re also quarantining visitors to the pet shop:
Hong Kong orders the culling of thousands of hamsters, closes shops selling them and sends more than 100 pet shop visitors into quarantine camp on suspicions that imported hamsters may have spread the virus to humans https://t.co/7RR8IgyRLa
— Bloomberg Politics (@bpolitics) January 18, 2022
And China is suggesting mail from overseas could be the source of recent outbreaks as well:
China's postal service orders workers to disinfect international deliveries and urges the public to reduce orders from overseas after authorities claim mail could be the source of recent coronavirus outbreaks https://t.co/BiAG87f4Wk pic.twitter.com/IEpoPgOMDB
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 18, 2022
Good luck, China. Let’s see how long they can keep it up:
Hong Kong will eradicates the sale of all small mammals after SARS-CoV-2 is found in eleven hamsters. Thousands of hamsters will also be culled following link to human cases. I’m doubtful China can maintain these kinds of extreme measures in pursuit of its zero covid policy. https://t.co/tnuOl40BRG
— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) January 18, 2022
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