Pet owners urged to avoid their cats and dogs if they have Covid

Potential risk domestic animals could act as reservoir' for virus and reintroduce it to humans, study shows

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Cat or dog owners who have Covid-19 should avoid their pets while infected, experts have said.

Scientists in the Netherlands have found coronavirus is common in pet cats and dogs where their owners have the disease. While cases of owners passing on Covid-19 to their pets are considered to be of negligible risk to public health, the scientists say there is a potential risk that domestic animals could act as a reservoir" for coronavirus and reintroduce it to humans.