A bizarre new beauty trend has emerged amid the coronavirus outbreak, with nail artists decorating nails to resemble protective masks, disinfectant bottles, and even the virus itself. The hashtag 'coronavirusnails' is slowly gaining traction on Instagram, despite governments urging citizens to focus on hand hygiene.
Some users have shared images of nails painted like mask-clad faces, while others feature bottles of disinfectant spray. More artistic interpretations show the virus's characteristic 'crown' of proteins under a microscope. One beautician posted a photo of herself in an elaborate protective suit made from black bin liners and glasses, captioning it: 'How y’all will find me next week! Lol'.
The pandemic has now seen more than 135,000 cases confirmed worldwide and over 4,500 deaths. In the UK, beauty salons, gyms, and other public places remain open as the country enters the 'delay' phase of its virus-tackling 'battle plan'. England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, stressed the importance of maintaining public 'energy and enthusiasm' during the crisis.
At a press conference on Thursday, Boris Johnson was asked if he worried about contracting the disease himself. The Prime Minister replied simply that he was washing his hands.
