Chinese officials are reportedly killing pets whose owners have Covid-19, as video footage emerges of bin bags stuffed with cats and dogs.
Under China's zero-Covid policy, everyone who tests positive must quarantine at designated sites for an unspecified amount of time.
After they are taken to the facilities, it is reported police are entering their homes and murdering their pets, over fear they could spread the virus further.
The video posted to Twitter showed cats, some dead and some alive, in several large transparent sacks tossed on the side of the pavement.
A screenshot from the video showing Shanghai resident's pets in bin bags
Twitter
A screenshot from the video showing Shanghai resident's pets in bin bags
Twitter
The video caption read: "26 million people in lockdown in Shanghai.
"People are committing suicide from their balconies and pets from people getting tested positive for #Covid are being collected to be killed and slaughtered in #Shanghai / #China This is pure evil!"
In Shanghai, the epicentre of the China's virus outbreak, residents have been under a draconian style lockdown for over five weeks.
The city has recorded more than 320,000 COVID infections since early March when its surge began.
On 17 April, they reported 19,831 new daily asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and three, the first time during the current outbreak that fatalities were recorded among coronavirus patients.
Despite fears animals can spread the virus further, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention maintains the chance of pets spreading Covid to humans is low.
Jane Polubotko, a Ukrainian national living in Shanghai, has been quarantined in one of the temporary facilities for 19 days and said it has "not been a nice experience".
She slammed the Chinese government for not providing any clear communication on when they’re allowed to leave the quarantine sites.