Newborn twins named Corona and Covid

Newborn twins named Corona and Covid

An Indian couple have done the unthinkable by naming their newborn twins as Corona and Covid, names connected with the pandemic raging in the world.

The twins, a boy and a girl, were born at a government hospital in the state capital Raipur on March 27, two days after the lockdown came into force disrupting daily lives.

But for them, they symbolise triumph over hardship.

"The delivery happened after facing several difficulties and therefore, my husband and I wanted to make the day memorable," Preeti Verma, the 27-year-old mother of the twins, told news agency Press Trust of India.

“When the hospital staff also started calling the babies as Corona and Covid, we finally decided to name them after the pandemic,” she said.

The couple said the names would remind them about the hardships they faced during the lockdown and before the successful delivery in a government hospital last week.

Verma said they had no help at the time of delivery as their family members could not reach Raipur due to the lockdown.

"Besides, these names are beautiful in their own, with Corona being Latin for crown," added Vinay Verma, the father.

The couple said there was pressure, however, from family elders and they could change their decision later and rename their children.