An Argentinian couple have been accused of showing a “total lack of respect” after using coronavirus as inspiration for their baby’s name.
Parents Eduardo Sequeira and Debora Maidana gave their baby a middle name of ‘Covid’ and said it would mean he grows up a “strong little man”.
He was born in Ceres Hospital, around 170 miles northwest of the city of Santa Fe in central-eastern Argentina on Wednesday.
The move has upset workers at the Ceres Hospital, who originally thought it was a joke.
One worker told local paper El Litoral: “I’m saddened this has happened, especially at our hospital.
“I think it’s a total lack of respect for the people who have died from this virus.
“At first I thought it was a joke but when I saw it had been certified by the hospital I realised it was true.
“It’s pretty off. Sadly this is going to be world news and the Ceres Hospital stamp is going to be on it.”
But hospital director Silvana Torres said the name was the parents’ decision and not something she was questioning.
The baby’s grandmother Alicia Jauregui said the name came out of a conversation between his parents saying their child was going to be famous because he arrived at a difficult time and that was going to make him a “strong little man.”
The baby was born by C-section weighing just over 7lbs.
Alicia told a local journalist: “I’m so happy, he’s my 15th grandchild.
“It was beautiful to see him for the first time. He’s just like his dad when he was born.”
The killer virus also inspired a couple in India who gave birth to twins.
The children were named Covid and Corona and were born at a hospital in Raipur on March 27.
Parents Vinay and Preeti Verma said they chose the names to assuage the fear and anxiety associated with the words and make the births “more memorable.”
Meanwhile US actor Tom Hanks wrote to a boy in Australia named ‘Corona’ who had been bulled because of his name.
The boy had written to Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson after finding out they had suffered from coronavirus.
Tom Hanks wrote back and sent the youngster a Corona-brand typewriter, which he had used during quarantine in the city.
