Because of New York City being an epicenter for COVID right now in the pandemic, we of course wanted to make sure we also did that testing, Calle said.

Nadia was the only cat tested because the process requires anesthetizing a big cat, Calle told The Associated Press . She was also temperature checked and received a normal result.

Measures have been put in place to protect zoo staff who care for the animals, as well as other cats at three other zoos operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which is in charge of the Bronx Zoo.

HuffPost has reached out to the WCS for additional information.

According to the World Health Organization , while there has been one instance of a dog testing positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong, there is no evidence that animals can transmit the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is aware of a small number of cases of animals testing positive outside the U.S., but there is nothing to suggest they can pass it on to humans. Still, they suggest practicing general hygiene around animals, like hand-washing after handling and restricting contact with pets when sick.

The United States Department of Agriculture is not recommending routine coronavirus testing for animals, veterinarian and department official Dr. Jane Rooney told the AP. The small number of animals that have been tested in the U.S. have returned negative results, excluding Nadias, Rooney said.

The positive COVID-19 test for the tiger was confirmed by the USDAs National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa.

The Bronx Zoo and other WCS affiliate zoos and aquariums have been shuttered temporarily since March 16.