Watch CBS News

Google Searches For Corona Beer Surge As News Of Coronavirus Outbreak Spreads

(CBS Local) -- The coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China, has nothing to do with Corona beer, but some people seem to think it does.

As the outbreak spread last week, searches for "corona beer virus," "beer virus," and "beer coronavirus" increased substantially worldwide, according to Google Trends.

Searches for "corona beer virus" jumped 2,300 percent globally from January 18 to January 26, Business Insider reported. Searches for "beer virus" jumped 744 percent and searches for "beer coronavirus" jumped 3,233 percent.

But there is no connection between the alcoholic beverage from Mexico and the virus that has so far killed 132 people and infected 6,000.

The name coronavirus originates from crown-like spikes that can be seen protruding from the virus under a microscope. In Spanish, corona means crown.

Despite the confusion, the stock price of Corona's parent company, Constellation Brands, has held steady since its peak of $193.59 on Jan. 9.

The first reported case of the deadly coronavirus was Dec. 8 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus has spread to at least 17 other countries, including five confirmed cases in the United States.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.