First dog infected with coronavirus dies in Hong Kong

• The 17-year-old dog, which belonged to a patient who had coronavirus, tested negative for the virus last week.
• The owner has refused authorities to conduct an autopsy.

The first dog to get infected with the coronavirus in the world died on Wednesday in Hong Kong, days after it was released from quarantine.

The 17-year-old dog, which belonged to a patient who had coronavirus, become the first dog to have tested positive for the virus, earlier in March. He was tested weak positive for the virus which indicates a low level of infection. Tests confirmed the virus in the pet's nasal and oral cavities.

However, last week, he tested negative for the virus, the city’s Hong Kong’s Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said. He was then allowed to return home over the weekend. Local authorities said those results didn’t necessarily mean the dog wasn’t infected.

https://www.brecorder.com/2020/03/05/577258/hong-kong-health-authorities-confirm-pet-dog-tested-positive-for-coronavirus/

The AFCD learned from the dog's owner that it had passed away on March 16, Dailymail reported. The owner refused AFCD to conduct an autopsy.

Authorities believe the dog’s death could have been because of the stress and anxiety of being in quarantine and away from its family.