Shop named 'Corona' in Kerala, India, gains selfie fame amid virus pandemic

Gulf Today Report

A clothing store named "Corona" in a small town in Southern India has become a selfie hub as the deadly new coronavirus pandemic sweeps the world.

The shopowner, who gave his name as Pareed, said people are flocking to his garment store in the southern state of Kerala.

“Many take photos in front of the outdoor sign and people ask him questions about the name," he said.

"When I started the store 27 years ago, there was no internet," said Pareed, who owns the store in the small town of Muvattupuzha.

Locally the shopowner is known as "Corona Pareed."

"I really liked the word 'corona' when I saw it in the dictionary. It had a reference to the sun, among other meanings," he said.

However, the 60-year-old said his newfound fame however has not boosted sales.

"Business in general is down since Kerala is quite strict about movement these days. So people are not exactly stepping out to shop for clothes," Pareed said.

Kerala authorities have closed schools, postponed government events and called for residents to avoid large gatherings.

Twenty-seven people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Kerala out of 180 cases across India, according to the national government.

Nearly 220,000 people have been infected by the illness globally since the outbreak began in December last year, and 8,982 people have died.