COVID-19 at the Bronx Zoo

After days of circulating rumors, yesterday it was officially announced the cases of COVID-19 had been diagnosed in big cats at the Bronx Zoo.  The impacted animals, which had displayed some symptoms similar to humans, are expected to recover completely.  Zoos across the world are responding to this new information by modifying their animal care practices to reduce the risk of exposure to zoo animals.  The official statement for the USDA is in the link below.

USDA Statement on the Confirmation of COVID-19 in a Tiger in New York

Two major takeaways from this.  First, there have been a lot of people screeching on social media about how a tiger got tested when so many people haven't.  The Bronx Zoo put out a statement that clarified that the test was a different one than humans use, was processed by different medical professionals, and in no way competed with humans for tests or treatment .  In other words, calm down.  The zoo is responsible for the welfare of the animals in their care - the City, State, and Federal government aren't responsible for them, it's up to the zoo to make sure that their health is being safeguarded.  It is not their fault that testing rates for Americans has been so regrettably low.

Secondly, please, please, please do not take this as an invitation to panic and abandon pets for fear that you'll get the virus from them.  Many people are immediately making the connection between big cats and small cats here, but there is no reason to fear your pet.  Besides, we've all been cooped up together for days anyway.  If one of you has it, both of you already have it.

On a grim, ironic note, you know who else was just diagnosed positive?  Joe Exotic...  and yes, there have been a lot of "Blame Carole Baskin" memes floating around.