Filipino Couple Named Baby 'Covid Marie' As Symbol Of Hope Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

People’s hope, amid the coronavirus pandemic, has been shaken but a Filipino couple wanted to give inspiration and optimism to others; hence, naming their newborn baby girl Covid Marie.

Born on April 13 at around 12:20 p.m. in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, while the said city was in Enhanced Community Quarantine, Covid Marie weighed 2.6 lbs. upon birth. Covid Marie’s father is John Tupas, 23, and an E-Tricycle driver, and her mother is Colline Tabesa, 20, both residents of Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City.

In an interview, the newborn’s parents shared their belief that their baby girl symbolized new hope for people to continue living optimistically despite the struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic, Manila Bulletin reported. Additionally, the Filipino couple reportedly wanted their daughter to finish her studies and become a doctor someday.

Adrian Prietos, a local reporter, posted Covid Marie’s photos on Facebook. In his post, Prietos said baby Covid Marie served as a symbol of hope to her family amid the trials brought by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

This wasn’t the first time that a Filipino couple named a child after the infamous COVID-19. It was reported previously that another Filipino couple named their newborn son Covid Bryant, which went viral on Twitter.

The lone district of Bacolod is the capital city of the Province of Negros Occidental. To date, the city has recorded 9 confirmed coronavirus cases with 1 patient still admitted at the hospital, 2 placed under home quarantine, 4 recovered and 2 deaths, according to the information on the official Facebook account of the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development.

The same data also revealed that the Province of Negros Occidental has recorded 4 confirmed coronavirus patients with 3 under quarantine in the province’s facility and 1 recovery.

Meanwhile, the Philippines tallied a total number of 7,777 confirmed coronavirus cases as of 4 p.m. of April 27, with 932 recoveries and 511 deaths, according to the COVID-19 tracker of the Department of Health.

President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, issued a proclamation declaring the country under the State of Calamity due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic On March 16, 2020. Subsequently, Negros Occidental Governor, Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, and Bacolod City Mayor, Evelio R. Leonardia, issued orders placing the said Province and the City under quarantine.

Mayor Leonardia, amid the battle against coronavirus, appealed for the cooperation of Bacolodnons while the city was placed on lockdown, Sunday (Philippine Time). In his message via the official Facebook account of the Bacolod City PIO, the mayor expressed how proud he was for the “unbreakable unity” coming from the people of Bacolod.