LA mocked for offering COVID tests to ANIMALS who might have the virus

Pet owners in Los Angeles County are being offered free COVID-19 testing to animals and pets despite there being no recently recorded cases of the disease among animals in the area. 

Veterinary Public Health has received funding from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor evidence of the disease in animals.

‘Our goal is to test many different species of animals including wildlife (deer, bats, raccoons), pets (dogs, cats, hamsters, pocket pets), marine mammals (seals), and more,’ LA Public Health tweeted.

So far, 177 animals have been tested including 107 bats, 12 raccoons, 7 squirrels, 12 coyotes, 6 opossums, 1 rat and 6 sea lions.

So far, no cases of COVID-19 have been found in any of those that underwent testing.

LA Public Health’s Twitter account turned off commenting on its generous pet testing offer, but that didn’t stop others on social media from gently mocking the idea.

‘How many ways can they waste money?’ Zaroda asked. 

‘Having comments turned off tells you all you need to know lmao’, wrote John B.

‘I’m sure the line is around the block since this is in LA’, wrote another Twitter user. 

‘Next up unicorns,’ joked one follower. 

‘I’m not sticking that Q-tip up my cats nose,’ said another. 

The offer comes just days after the CDC relaxed its guidelines for those who are exposed to COVID-19

In the past, the health agency advised those who were unvaccinated to quarantine for five days post-exposure. Once the symptoms disappeared, the quarantine could end.

Now, unvaccinated individuals are no longer required to quarantine after exposure but are recommended to mask up for 10 days or until they test negative.

‘We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools — like vaccination, boosters, and treatments — to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,’ said Dr. Greta Massetti, the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report author, in a press release issued by the CDC.

‘We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation. This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives,’ said Massetti.