The proximal origin of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 is thought to be bats, while the reservoir host for MERS-CoV is the dromedary camel.1–3 Previous data suggest that in order for coronaviruses to exhibit efficient zoonotic transmission, the virus must undergo natural selection in an animal host (ie, intermediary species) such that it acquires features affording tropism to human tissue.