The Risk Assessment Center on Food Chain (RACFCH) was asked to prepare an opinion on the risks associated with the protection of the health of exotic and valuable animals from the collection of Sofa Zoo from infection with acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS) -CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection is not included in the OIE List of Diseases. However, in accordance with the reporting obligations in Article 1.1.4. of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code relating to the new emerging diseases, the OIE must be notified of the disease through the World Animal Health Information System - WAHIS. Recent experimental studies show that many mammals species, including cats, dogs, voles, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, minks, pigs, rabbits, raccoon dogs and white-tailed deer, can be infected with the virus. The cats, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, raccoons and white-tailed deer can also spread the infection to other animals of the same species in the laboratory. A number of studies have examined primates as models for human infection. Rhesus macaques, Javanese macaques, baboons, griffon vultures and common marmosets can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and become ill in the laboratory. The animals in zoos are subject to veterinary care, including ongoing monitoring of infectious diseases. For some specific species, screening for some coronaviruses is already part of the requirement to enter new specimens (eg FIP in some Felidae) or to be tested when any clinical signs are observed (eg diarrhea in young individuals). The ecological, sanitary and welfare conditions in zoos can in no way be compared to the conditions in the wildlife markets. The zoos apply standard hygiene and sanitary practices, excellent breeding conditions adapted to the needs of the animal species, and daily monitoring of all animals in care. In any case, a full species-based risk assessment of Covid-19 should be performed for each contact with animals, with input from breeders and veterinary teams, as appropriate. The risk of infection should be assessed in both directions: from the human (staff and visitors) to the animal and from the animal to the human. Probably some taxons and species are at higher risk of infection than others. For those species that are currently considered less susceptible (eg birds, fish and reptiles), the stand...