Corona beer halts production

Grupo Modelo, the brewer behind Corona, Modelo and other beers, said in a statement on Thursday that it was suspending its beer production after the Mexican government ordered nonessential businesses to close in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus, The New York Times.

The brewer is a part of Anheuser-Busch InBev.

The statement said: "At Grupo Modelo we are ready to execute a plan with more than 75 percent of our staff working from home and at the same time guaranteeing the supply of beer.”

Grupo Modelo’s Corona beer had drawn attention recently after several consumers had by mistake associated the drink with the virus. that has now extended its killer arms to nearly all the countries across the globe.

38% of American beer drinkers surveyed this week said they wouldn't buy Corona "under any circumstances" at the moment. It's worth noting that, among regular Corona drinkers, only 4% said they would now refrain — that raises questions about whether the virus is, in fact, affecting consumer attitudes toward the brand, CBS News reported recently.

Yet 14% of the Corona drinkers admitted they would not order the brand in a public place, found the survey, conducted by 5W Public Relations. Sixteen percent of the beer drinkers surveyed by 5W were confused about whether Corona beer is related to the coronavirus, according to the publicity agency, read the report further.

Constellation Brands, which handles Grupo Modelo’s beer in the United States,  however, said the virus did not hit its sales.

"Corona's coincidental name with the virus hasn't dented sales. Constellation said sales of its beer brands grew 8.9% for the first three months of this year, with Modelo and Corona being its top sellers," CNN reported.

Sales accelerated in the first three weeks of March, the company said, with its beers growing 24% compared to a year ago, it said.