Coronavirus – Luxury goods firm behind Christian Dior and Givenchy to make free hand sanitiser for France
THE luxury goods giant behind Christian Dior will mass-produce hand sanitisers which it will give out for FREE across France as the country battles COVID-19.
LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton has instructed its perfume factories to churn out bottles of anti-bacterial gel to address a well-publicised shortage.
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LVMH and its chairman Bernard Arnaut have announced the giant will produce hand sanitisers to cope with a shortage in France[/caption]
Parisian hospitals will be prioritised for the hand sanitisers which will be delivered free of charge.
Coronavirus has killed 120 people in France – which includes a jump of 29 since yesterday – while over 4,500 people have been struck down by the bug.
Government advice is for people to wash their hands regularly – however panic buying has caused a shortage of hydroalcoholic gel.
Now the luxury goods giant LVMH and its billionaire chairman Bernard Arnaut have stepped in.
In a press release, the firm said: “Given the risk of shortage of hydroalcoholic gel in France, Bernard Arnault has instructed the LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics business to prepare its production sites to manufacture substantial quantities of hydroalcoholic gel to be provided to public authorities.”
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The company’s perfume factories normally produce fragrances for its high-end brands Givenchy, Guerlain and Christian Dior.
As well as cosmetics, the giant also produces clothing and alcoholic drinks through its subsidiaries such as Moët & Chandon and Hennessy.
On Saturday, France closed all “non-essential” public spaces, excluding pharmacies, as the country battles the outbreak.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced that France will increase social distancing to combat the spread.
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All social venues will be closed starting from midnight tonight, with all but essential businesses shutting.
As he upgraded the coronavirus crisis to a ‘stage three emergency,’ Philippe said: “Markets and food shops, pharmacies, gas stations, banks, newspaper and tobacco stores will remain open.
“Places of worships will remain open, but religious ceremonies and gatherings will be postponed.”
The dramatic measure will cost the French economy billions.
French authorities had already shut down all schools, banned gatherings of more than 100 people and advised people to limit their social life.
The company’s perfume factories normally churn out fragrances for its luxury brands such as Christian Dior[/caption]