Across much of the world, hand sanitizer is being bought in large quantities amid the coronavirus pandemic, with many anti-bacterial gels having sold out in a number of retailers.

And so to minimize the risk of a shortage in France, LVMH - parent company to the following designer brands: Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Moet & Hennessy - is using its perfume factories to manufacture disinfectant gels.

Related - this 103-year-old grandmother is the oldest person to fight the virus:

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On Sunday, the company released a statement informing buyers that from Monday, the factories would be used to “to produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic gel”.

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The statement reads:

“Given the risk of a 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

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 against the spread of the virus. LVMH will continue to honor this commitment for as long as necessary in connection with the French health authorities.”

As well as regularly using hand sanitizer, you should also familiarize yourself with the symptoms of coronavirus:

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Per the advice from the World Health Organisation, which confirmed that COVID-19 had reached pandemic status last Wednesday, one of the most effective methods of keeping safe from the spread of the virus is to regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub - or alternatively to wash your hands with soap and water.

The organization also recommends "covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze and then to "dispose of the used tissue immediately".

Dior and Louis Vuitton are using their factories to make free hand sanitizer