O novo coronavírus surgiu em dezembro de 2019 na China, tendo como epicentro a cidade de Wuhan. O número de mortes já atingiu os mais de 1.300, até ao momento, sendo que o valor ainda não parou de aumentar.

Estes factos levaram os habitantes a tentarem proteger os seus animais de estimação do Covid-19 e usam tudo o que está ao seu alcance: copos, plásticos e... até meias. 

Diversas imagens destas proteções improvisadas foram publicadas nas redes sociais e, na verdade, há de tudo - desde as tão estranhas que chegam a ser hilariantes, às mais 'simples'.

Contudo, de acordo com a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), não há qualquer indicação de que animais de estimação, como cães e gatos, possam ser infetados ou portadores do novo coronavírus.

Apesar disso, deve lavar-se sempre as mãos após contacto direto com animais domésticos, porque ficará protegido contra outro tipo de doenças ou bactérias. 

#ChinaAn old man in #china walks his dog on a transport roller, a good man never forget to protect his best friend with a mask from #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/i8kYV6Y0Lo

— FAISAL AZIZ (@Faisal0343Aziz) February 14, 2020

A dog wears a paper cup over its mouth on a street in Beijing. The total number of deaths in China's coronavirus outbreak has passed 1,370 https://t.co/jKy6M79j69 AFP#MonitorUpdates pic.twitter.com/oS037r0IRa

— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) February 13, 2020

A dog wears a muzzle in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, amid the #coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/VQMiskMOoB

— Bermuda News Network (@bermuda_news) February 11, 2020

A man wearing a face mask walks his dog, also in a face mask...number of deaths and new cases in China’s Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak rose...changed way the infections are counted, raising concerns that severity of outbreak has been under-reportedSTR/AFP https://t.co/iwYfLqfCUw pic.twitter.com/RNatkXU36Q

— gurlinthewurld (@gurlinthewurld) February 13, 2020

#COVID19 latest, Wed 12 FebCases 45,171Deaths 1,115 "Death toll from #coronavirus reached new high on Wed even as Chinese officials said rate of new infections showed signs of slowing."All new deaths on Feb 11 + all but 61 new cases were in China.(Yes, pic is of a dog.) pic.twitter.com/3pzT0t3kH5

— Ivor Goodbody (@IvorGoodbody) February 12, 2020

As anxiety over China’s coronavirus epidemic grows, a Beijing woman and her dog wear protective masks. Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty pic.twitter.com/NEQnCJDBly

— LoveLikeA.Dog  (@LoveLikeADoggy) February 8, 2020

In #China we also protect dogs from #coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/surOqNNNBp

— StrategicNews (@StrategicNews2) February 10, 2020

Even dog is wearing a custom-made mask! #coronavirus #CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/ZYHGM7mI3A

— Dr. Lin Zhan (@uofmnursingdean) February 14, 2020

Face mask for dogs!!!  That’s it, this #coronavirus epidemic has gone too far!  https://t.co/1Gxpnms2Q2

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) February 10, 2020

#Coronavirus is Real not a Joke and not a Fashion Statement for your Pet..U Will need More than a Mask smh#news #media #pets #cats#dogs #homeless #nerdgang #maskshttps://t.co/fxzpLkkw0q

— DOAP™ NG (@doapworld) February 14, 2020

VIDEO: A dog wears a face mask due to coronavirus in China pic.twitter.com/bpv4JBxoW4

— BNL NEWS (@BreakingNLive24) February 5, 2020

The Chinese #coronavirus #wuhancoronavirus can infect your pets. Here is the mask people in China use for their dogs pic.twitter.com/HNL5bQmwIB

— Pete (@PeterMentes) January 31, 2020

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