The government in Hong Kong has confirmed that a pet dog has tested positive for a low level of the coronavirus.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said it received a referral from the region's Department of Health on Friday.

It was a dog of a patient infected with COVID-19.

Staff picked up the dog from a flat on the same day and sent it to an animal keeping facility.

Oral, nasal and rectal samples were collected for testing.

The nasal and oral cavity samples tested 'weak positive' to the COVID-19 virus.

However the dog does not have any relevant symptoms.

The dog, believed to be a pomeranian, is the only dog under quarantine at an animal keeping facility at the Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

There are no other animals using the facility.

While staff of the department will step up cleansing and disinfection of the facility.

The AFCD adds that it does not have evidence that pet animals can be infected with COVID-19 virus, or can be a source of infection to people.

The department says it will conduct close monitoring of the dog and collect further samples for testing.

This is to confirm if the dog has really been infected with the virus - or if this is a result of "environmental contamination" of the dog's mouth and nose.

"Repeated tests will be conducted for the dog and it will only be returned when the test result is negative", it says.

A spokesman reminded pet owners to maintain a good habit of hygiene, and wash their hands thoroughly with soap or alcohol sanitiser after touching pets.