OP-ED: Could dangerous new variants evolve in pets and farm animals?

Even over a short timeframe, some Covid evolution is theoretically possible

People have been panicking about Covid-19 in animals since the very start of the pandemic. There’s now plenty of evidence that SARS-CoV-2 -- the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 -- can cross from humans into other animals. This is known as spillback. The virus is capable of infecting a range of species, from hamsters to gorillas.

Reassuringly, the vast majority of animals do not get as seriously sick from an infection as humans do. Also, at present there are very few documented cases of animals then transmitting infection back to humans. But a new concern is now being discussed: What if SARS-CoV-2 could be replicating unnoticed in animals and mutating? Could new variants emerge that can re-infect humans and create more havoc?