Analysis: Pets, livestock and wildlife can all catch coronavirus so do they pose an infection risk? By Arjan Stegeman, Utrecht University SARS-CoV-2 almost certainly originated in an animal.
But ever since the virus infected humans the outbreak has been driven by efficient human-to-human transmission, resulting in the current pandemic.
The role of animals in the ongoing spread of the virus is negligible. But does this mean we can ignore animals when it comes to Covid-19?
Definitely not. Many people own animals or come in contact with them. Because of this, they're right to ask whether pets, livestock or wildlife pose an infection risk.