LVMH, the company behind luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, as well as several other brands, announced that its perfume and cosmetics factories will instead be producing hand sanitizer amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Once produced, the luxury brand plans to provide hand sanitizer to authorities and hospitals in France free of charge, according to The Hill.
“Given the risk of a shortage of hydroalcoholic gel in France, Bernard Arnault has instructed the LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics business to prepare its production sites to manufacture substantial qualities of hydroalcoholic gels to be provided to the public authorities,” the LVMH said in a statement on March 15.
Production will start on Monday.
“The gel will be delivered free of charge to the French health authorities and as a priority from this Monday to the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris. Through this initiative, LVMH intends to help address the risk of a lack of product in France and enable a greater number of people to continue to take the right action to protect themselves from the spread of the virus,” the statement read.
LVMH stated that the company will produce as much and for as long as needed to combat the virus.
In France as of Monday, there are 6,650 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 148 deaths, and 12 recoveries, according to data by Johns Hopkins University. Meanwhile, French officials have ordered that bars and restaurants close down in an effort to stem the spread of the virus, which causes the disease COVID-19 and emerged from Wuhan, China, in late 2019.
In the United States, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced that the state will be producing its own hand sanitizer brand, New York State Clean, as a way to combat the shortage of supplies as well as price gouging.
Experts recommend frequently washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, regularly cleaning surfaces and objects, and not touching one’s face with unwashed hands.
People who become ill should stay at home and contact their doctor or health authorities. Depending on their symptoms, they may be asked to stay isolated at home. If symptoms are severe patients will be quarantined at hospitals.
Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
