The Palghar district administration in Maharashtra has urged people not to abandon their pet animals over fear of contracting the coronavirus infection. Despite the government's appeal, several people have abandoned their pets in open in Palghar. As a result, the pets have got mixed with the stray animals and several of them have been starving, District Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Dr Prashant Kamble said.

He dismissed as baseless the belief of some people that domesticated animals spread the coronavirus infection. "It is not spread through them. These animals left on roads have no food, water and shelter and they are starving to death," he said.