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States are starting to call for bans on “wet markets.” California state senator Harry Stern and New York Assemblymember Lisa Rosenthal are working with an advocacy group called Social Compassion in Legislation to create a plan to end wet markets in California and New York, according to LAD Bible.

“Wet markets” are animal markets where animals are slaughtered and butchered on site are the supposed source of the coronavirus.

Animal advocacy groups wrote to Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to ban the wildlife trade. Social Compassion in Legislation is sponsoring the bills to ban the markets in both states and the legislators will be introducing them. 80 live animal markets currently are allowed to operate in New York. The markets sell chickens, rabbits, quail, and goats.

Rosenthal told Fox News of the markets, “Many live animal markets in New York are filthy places where neighbours complain about unbearable odours and blood and animal faeces covering the surrounding public sidewalks and streets. These markets, where live animals are slaughtered on site and sold directly to the public, are breeding grounds for cruelty and disease.  In addition to the well-documented cruelty to animals, unsanitary conditions like these endanger the health and safety of New Yorkers, and these markets must be closed down.”

“It’s too great a danger to have these markets that have been shown through inspection records and hidden camera investigations to be filthy. It’s not safe. It’s not safe,” Rosenthal told ABC7 News. “And in this COVID-19 period, we know diseases jump from animals to humans, especially when species are mixed and that is the state at a lot of these markets.”

PETA supports the bills, saying in a statement, “PETA applauds the progressive legislators in California and New York—who are working with our friends at Social Compassion in Legislation—on their commonsense plan.”

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the lawmakers joined forces with Social Compassion in Legislation to facilitate the ban, they did not create the group.

Read more about protecting yourself from coronavirus. Check the CDC website for more information on how to protect yourself and check our latest article to learn how COVID-19 differs from the flu.

Scientists believe that the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, started at an exotic animal market in Wuhan, China. You can help stop the incidence of viruses like these by signing this petition to ban the wildlife trade.

This is a good time to reconsider our intake of animal products to stay healthy Eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

Interested in joining the dairy-free and meatless train? We highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

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