KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — Many countries, including Malaysia, have shuttered public places with strict rules to limit people movements with the Covid-19 pandemic.

While most people have decided to temporarily halt their social activities, some in Japan are taking advantage of technology to still hang out and have a drink with their friends and loved ones while practising social distancing.

The trend, which has been described as On-nomi or "online drinking” has recently taken off among those self-isolating across Japan.

According to a report by Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, the term was coined by a group of over 10 women in their 40s after they began gathering on the teleconferencing app Zoom to have a few beers and chat about being stuck indoors due to the virus outbreak.

Ever since a few snaps of the new trend began making rounds on social media platforms, people from all over the world have joined in the fun to have a drink with their friends using video conferencing apps such as Skype, FaceTime or Zoom without risking infection.  

In some photos and videos, people are seen holding a glass of beer or wine up the camera to toast and kick back in these worrying times.