COVID jumps from humans to cats and dogs because the virus is well adapted to our lungs and throat, where it's easily aerosolized and expelled. Bats are a compl

COVID jumps from humans to cats and dogs because the virus is well adapted to our lungs and throat, where it's easily aerosolized and expelled. Bats are a completely different organism with different adaptations. Most viruses that live in bats get shed through their feces which animals and humans come into contact with quite frequently in the wild (again, just look at hendra outbreaks). Chances are, even more people are exposed to the droppings in industrial settings before the sterilization step. A few scientists handling bats with protective gear is a drop in the bucket to real world exposure and it's hardly whataboutism when it's about research meant to protect the whatabouts.