The virus now is a PR story. It involves internal and external communications as well as reputation management.

A Special case

The name of the virus is the same with the popular beer Corona of Constellation Brands.

Well, in all the hysteria of the China virus there are a lot of people thinking the virus is related with the beer.

I appreciate a lot the reaction of Corona Beer. First of all they issued a statement „We aren’t responding [the the conversation on social media], as we trust that our consumers, by and large, understand that this virus has nothing to do with our beer or our business.”. That was very wise. If you were to respond in social media, you would have to ways: trying to explain the ridiculous mistake or to hunt for the highest reach by making funny ads in the social media.

The first would have been futile as there are too much treads to control.

The second would definitely backfired by accusing the company of the mockery about a very serious global issue and of low morality.

So, let’s learn from the Corona PR pros to silently watching the unfolding of events, being, of course, ready if something get out of hand.