The pet dog of a Hong Kong Covid-19 patient has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Hong Kong media quoted the Hong Kong government as saying late last night.

According to the reports, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the canine had not shown any symptoms and there was no evidence so far to suggest that pets could contract the virus or can be a source of infection to humans, in a statement issued after midnight.

The department said more tests would be conducted to confirm if the dog had really been infected with the novel coronavirus or this was a result of environmental contamination of the dog’s mouth and nose.