LETTER TO THE EDITOR

What You Need to Know About Pets and COVID-19

Wondering what COVID-19 means for the animals in your life? The Department of Animal Care and Control has the information you need:

• The primary concern of COVID-19 is for human health.
• The COVID-19 outbreak started in Wuhan City, China in 2019.
• Dogs and cats have their own coronavirus that is NOT the same
  virus as COVID-19.
• There is no current evidence that you will get COVID-19 from your family pet.
• If you are sick with COVID-19, it is recommended to limit close contact with pets until more information is known about the virus. You should always wash your hands after handling animals as a general rule.
• It is recommended to wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching eyes/nose/mouth to prevent transmission of viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol are recommended if soap and water are not available.
• Protect others from getting sick: Cover your mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing with a flexed elbow (or tissue). Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Owners should include pets in their emergency preparedness planning, including a two-week supply of food and medications.
• Reminder: It is cold and flu season, it is important to get your flu vaccination. Decreased influenza-related hospitalization will allow more people to be treated in the health care system if COVID-19-related hospitalization increases in the U.S.
• Further information from the Department of Public Health and Veterinary Public Health can be found here:
  · publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/#
  · publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/FAQ-PetOwners.pdf
  · publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/FAQ.pdf
  · Los Angeles Country Animal Care & Control