Fashion group Armani said on Thursday that all of its Italian production plants would start producing single-use medical overalls, in an effort to support healthcare workers in the coronavirus crisis.

The shortage of protective equipment and other medical devices has been one of the biggest problems dogging the Italian health system since the contagion surfaced in the wealthy northern region of Lombardy at the end of February.
The fashion house, run by designer Giorgio Armani, added it had increased to 2 million euros ($2.20 million), from an initial 1.25 million euros, the funds it donated to Italian hospitals to help them face the virus emergency.
A consortium of Italian textile and fashion companies, coordinated by business association Confindustria Moda, is soon expected to start producing millions of protective face masks, with the aim of making Italy self-sufficient in manufacturing the masks.

Armani is among the luxury brands to have announced efforts to support the coronavirus crisis either by producing products for healthcare workers and those most in need or donating money to help fight the spread of the infection.