Twitter users have expressed shock after news spread of a couple in Chhattisgarh, India which named their newborn twins — Corona and Covid — to serve as a reminder of the hardship they endured during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to HinduTimes, the Raipur-based couple decided to christen their boy ‘Covid’ and their girl ‘Corona’ after they were born during the country’s three-week lockdown.
Speaking on the reason for the unusual names, the 27-year-old mother, Preeti Verma, said it would remind them of the the difficult situations they overcame ahead of the twin’s successful delivery.
“I was blessed with the twins, a boy and a girl – in the early hours on March 27. We have named them Covid and Corona for now,” Verma, who already has a two-year-old daughter, told PTI news agency.
“The delivery happened after facing several difficulties. Therefore, my husband and I wanted to make the day memorable.
“Indeed the virus is dangerous and life-threatening but its outbreak made people focus on sanitation, hygiene and inculcate other good habits. Thus, we thought about these names.
“On the night of March 26, I suddenly experienced severe labour pain and somehow my husband arranged an ambulance operated under 102 Mahtari Express service.
“As no vehicular movement was allowed on roads due to the lockdown, we were stopped by police at various places but they let us go after noticing my condition.
“I was wondering what would happen in the hospital as it was midnight, but fortunately doctors and other staff were very cooperative.
“Our relatives, who wanted to reach the hospital, could not make it as bus and train services were stopped due to the lockdown.”
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