Pet hamsters are ok: Hong Kong lifts COVID-19 small animal ban

A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department issued a statement, announcing that the city government is set to scratch a year-long ban on import of hamsters and other small mammals, that was outlawed last year over COVID-19 concerns.

While the imported small pets will still require a negative coronavirus test results before they can be sold in the city, the ones that test positive will be just quarantined from now on ‘until the test result is satisfactory.’

According to Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department‘s official, the testing is necessary because studies have proven the rodents are not just susceptible to the virus, but that they can easily transmit it to humans.

Hong Kong banned imported hamsters and other small mammals of foreign origin last January, after almost a dozen hamsters shipped from the Netherlands were found to be infected with the Delta variant of coronavirus.

Delta variant had not been seen in humans for months and was believed to have left Hong Kong until a 23-year-old worker at Little Boss pet shop tested positive and allegedly infected a customer.

City’s health officials ended up culling 2,500 hamsters, plus a few rabbits and chinchillas, in response to the discovery, which happened while Hong Kong was attempting to implement China’s severe Zero COVID policy.

Hong Kong residents were also ordered to turn in their pet hamsters for testing, but only 113 families reportedly did so, and just one of those pets tested positive for the virus. 

While hamsters remained banned as the panic faded, pet stores were allowed to resume importing non-hamster mammals in May.

The reversal of the hamster ban comes amid a wider opening-up for Hong Kong, which has lifted hotel quarantines, bar and restaurant bans, and PCR test requirements for new arrivals.

However, the city reportedly plans to retain its mask mandate, citing concern about influenza as well as COVID-19.

Travel to and from mainland China is expected to re-open later this week as Beijing eases its own Zero-COVID policies.