Coronavirus: walking the dog would increase the risk of being infected by 78%

A Spanish study shed light on riskier everyday behaviors in the face of coronavirus. Among these, walking the dog, which increases the probability of contracting Covid-19 by 78%.

Published in the scientific journal Environmental Research, this study is based on a survey, to which more than 2,000 people responded while in prison in Spain, in effect between March and May. “The results of this survey warn of greater contagion among dog owners”, explain its authors, for whom “this increased prevalence has yet to be clarified”. The hypothesis that dogs can transmit the coronavirus to their owner or lover needs to be explored according to these Spanish researchers.

In France, the Health Security Agency (Anses) confirmed on Thursday that “domestic and wild animals play no epidemiological role in the maintenance and spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the name of the virus responsible for Covid-19. , Ed) “, while in France some cases of dogs and cats positive for coronavirus have been identified. However, ANSES invites owners of “receptive” animals to Covid-19 (dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, etc.) to respect the “strict” hygiene measures. People with the coronavirus must for their part “avoid close contact with animals”.

Having the shopping delivered, a risky behavior

The Spanish study highlights other situations and activities that increase the risk of contracting the virus. One of these is particularly surprising: home delivery of basic necessities increases the likelihood of contamination by 94% compared to shopping in stores. Working on site rather than telecommuting is associated with an additional 76% risk and living with someone with Covid-19 with a 60% greater risk.

As for the most effective behavior to reduce your chances of contracting the virus, according to this study, is the disinfection of products purchased in supermarkets or grocery stores (-94%), before all other hygiene measures. In its official recommendations, ANSES recommends some actions to be taken when returning from shopping: wash your hands, remove any wrapping when possible, clean the products (and the remaining packaging) with damp absorbent paper before putting them away, then wash your hands again. For fruits and vegetables, they should be washed in potable water – and not bleach or detergent – before eating or cooking.