A police dog will be sent to the Hong Kong government’s animal quarantine centre for further examination after becoming the force’s first canine member to test positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, according to a source.

Authorities on Saturday collected oral samples from the German shepherd and 13 other police dogs working at the airport after a handler there contracted Covid-19 last week. The constable was one of six officers from the airport police district to test positive for Covid-19. A seventh officer from the district has also tested preliminary-positive.

Five of the seven policemen – including the dog’s handler – are from the airport security unit, the elite special action squad assigned to the travel hub.

The test results released on Tuesday confirmed the German shepherd to be positive, the source said, while the other 13 dogs tested negative.

He said the dog would be sent to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s animal quarantine centre on Tuesday afternoon, and would remain there until it recovered and tested negative.

He added that police had sent staff to clean and disinfect the premises and facilities involved.

After the seven officers tested positive, police said they were awaiting recommendations from the Department of Health, but that officers who might have come into close contact with the seven would be sent to quarantine for observation and testing.

“Police will deploy resources [flexibly] to ensure the provision of emergency services remains unaffected,” the force said in its Facebook.

It added that police would communicate closely with the Department of Health and proactively provide information pertaining to the matter, such as the recent duty record and roster of the police officers concerned.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said as of Tuesday, 248 animals had been kept at its facilities over Covid-19 risks. But most have been returned to their owners after completing quarantine, and only 33 animals are still under veterinary monitoring.

So far, six dogs and seven cats have tested positive for the coronavirus since February, according to the department, among which there was only one police dog. All the animals did not show symptoms related to the disease.