Turns out otters can also get COVID-19

A whole group of little otters at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta tested positive for COVID-19, probably by an asymptomatic staff member.

The otters were tested after they started showing mild respiratory symptoms, including sneezing, runny noses, mild lethargy and coughing, the aquarium said on Sunday.

The animals, all considered “geriatric,” are likely to make a full recovery, the aquarium said.

“Despite following all recommended health and safety protocols, the otters are suspected to have contracted the infection from an asymptomatic staff member,” the aquarium said.

The facility’s little claw otters “have shown only mild symptoms and we expect all of them to make a full recovery,” said Dr. Tonya Clauss, aquarium vice president of animal and environmental health, said in a statement. “We provide supportive care when needed so they can eat, rest and recover.”

None of the sick otters have had direct contact with guests, who are separated from the animals by an acrylic barrier, the aquarium said. Employees who work with the animals have all been tested. The aquarium has not disclosed the test results.

A number of other strains have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. More than 10,000 minks in Utah have died as a result of the disease, which has also been found in dogs, cats, lions, tigers and gorillas.

Some whales may also be susceptible to the virus, although a definitive answer will require more research.