Pouching Priority

A weird tale from Hong Kong. Thousands of residents have signed petitions to stop 2000 imported hamsters being killed (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/21/hongkongers-launch-hamster-rescue-mission-after-covid-cull-declared). The hamsters were in a pet shop and 11 were found to have traces of the Covid19 virus on their bodies. This is hardly remarkable, as one of the pet shop workers had the viral infection. He would be breathing out aerosol particles, as he went about business. The authorities have decreeded that the hamsters are potential transmitters of Covid19. It is highly likely that viral particles will be found on any surface where infected people are operating. Authorities even want to 'cull' any hamster, bought by the public, before a specified date. Hamster owners have been urged to bring in their pets for disposal! Reportedly, people are resisting this move. Some are offering to take hamsters in as clandestine pets or even giving them false papers (pre-dated invoices). The response of the authorities is clearly inappropriate and 'heavy-handed'. One might have thought, however, that Hong Kong residents would have more pressing issues on their minds.