Philippines Florist Is Selling Anti-Coronavirus Bouquets for Valentine’s, and People Are Loving It

A florist in the Philippines is selling romance this Valentine's Day with a bouquet of flowers that comes with anti-coronavirus gear.

The innovative gift, which includes sanitizer, soap and a mask and gloves, is proving popular among local residents in Manila.

The owner of the flower shop said she made the "anti-nCoV bouquet" in part because she is scared of the rapid spread of the virus.

“This bouquet that I made, the anti-nCoV bouquet, I thought of this because we have this coronavirus and so that people can have an idea that flowers are not the only thing you can give during Valentine’s,” flower shop owner Mary Jane Villegas said. 

“Because of the spread of the virus, I included a mask, sanitizer, toothpaste and soap for Valentine’s, instead of the usual things like chocolate.”

Reactions to the novel idea were mostly positive.

"I chose this bouquet to avoid getting the virus. ... This is also hygienic, and we can avoid the virus," one happy customer said. "I want my gift to be different, I always give flowers to my wife. This is unusual and it also provides protection from the virus." 

The bouquet is Villegas’ unique response to the recently named COVID-19. The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the virus’ outbreak. 

The Philippines has three recorded cases of the coronavirus, including one death. 

In China, the death toll from the virus has hit 1,367, and the number of confirmed cases has reached 59,804.