Watch: 'Mask' Parottas At A Madurai Restaurant For COVID-19 Awareness

A restaurant in Tamil Nadu has cooked up an unusual way of encouraging people to wear masks in the coronavirus crisis. 

Presenting the "mask parotta" - a flat bread shaped like a three-ply surgical mask.

And it is a big hit, according to the owner of the restaurant chain.

"People of Madurai are not very particular about wearing masks. We introduced 'mask' parottas to spread awareness among the people about COVID-19," Mr Poovalingam, the restaurant manager told news agency ANI.

#WATCH Tamil Nadu: A restaurant in Madurai is serving parottas made in the shape of masks. Manager Poovalingam says, "People of Madurai are not very particular about wearing masks. We introduced mask parottas to spread awareness among people about #COVID19." pic.twitter.com/pmdCRNBtCo

ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2020

Each parotta is priced at Rs 50 and since it became a sensation on social media, people have been ordering it online, said the restaurant manager.

The 'mask' parottas have become a hot favourite on Twitter at a time India has over 7,60,000 coronavirus cases. Nearly 75 per cent of the cases are from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

Tamil Nadu, with 1,22,350 cases and 17,00 deaths, is the second worst-hit state.

Twitter was flooded with funny posts of Madurai's 'mask' parotta. Some even called it the "corona cuisine".

Mask' parottas create an appetite for safety. Restaurant in Madurai came up with design to highlight COVID-19 prevention#Madurai pic.twitter.com/sZXUOStOPv

Harshu Agrawal (@__Schrutefarms) July 8, 2020

Corona Cuisine? Madurai Restaurant is Serving Mask Parottas for Covid-19 Awarenesshttps://t.co/cMYmQgTyq3 pic.twitter.com/WmEcpY17rL

George Cheriyan (@GCheriyan) July 8, 2020

Parotta Mask, Corona Bajji. #Ishtathuku pic.twitter.com/m1b2xShoMp

Gautam Narayanan (@Gautam_writes) July 8, 2020

According to health workers in the state, it is a big challenge making sure that people use face covers. Nearly 30 per cent of the people in rural areas of Tamil Nadu don't use masks, they say.

Not only 'mask' parottas, earlier in April, a sweet shop in Kolkata came up with the 'corona sandesh' when the Mamata Banerjee government allowed these shops to open for four hours every day. The pink and white 'corona sandesh' with red spikes appeared at a famous sweet shop in the city. The shop owner also gave it free to anyone who stepped into his shop.

From 'mask' parottas to 'corona sandesh', 'corona pakoras and 'corona burgers, the kitchen became a creative space for many during the lockdown and the virus inspired people to invent funky new recipes.