A pet dog that was tested for the coronavirus in Hong Kong has died two days after it was released from quarantine.

The 17-year-old Pomeranian had initially tested positive for a low level of the virus.

He showed no symptoms and was released from quarantine on Saturday after further tests produced negative results.

However Hong Kong officials say the dog died on Monday.

The cause of death was unclear.

A spokesman for the region's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) told the South China Morning Post: “The department learned from the dog’s owner that it had passed away on March 16.

"The owner said she was not willing to [allow] an autopsy to examine the cause of death."

The dog had repeatedly been tested during quarantine.

A total of five tests were taken from its nasal and oral samples, which all returned "weak positive" results for the virus.

The dog had been under quarantine since late February at an animal keeping facility at the Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

There were no other animals using the facility.

The owner, a 60-year-old woman, was confirmed to be infected and hospitalised on February 25th.

Reports say she has since recovered and returned home on March 8th.

The Heath Service Executive (HSE) has said there is "no evidence" that pets such as cats and dogs can catch or spread coronavirus.