Dolce & Gabbana announced this week that it is partnering with Italy's Humanitas University to support research into the coronavirus. We felt we had to do something to fight this devastating virus, which started in China and is threatening all of humanity. In cases like this, it is important to make the right choice," Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana explained in a statement. Dolce & Gabbana is already working to support medical scholarships at Humanitas University.

"Professor Mantovani told us an African fable about hummingbirds. While other animals were fleeing a forest fire, the hummingbird flew in the opposite direction and kept carrying water to put out the fire. Either way, we understood that something was worth doing. Even very small gestures can mean a great deal," the designers continued in their statement. [The aforementioned Professor Alberto Mantovani heads a research team at the University of Humanitas, working with Professors Cecilia Garlanda, Elisa Vicenzi, and Massimo Clementi. This research team was the first group of researchers in Italy to isolate the pathogen responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome known as SARS.

Since the first case of coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China, the disease has spread to 24 countries, according to the World Health Organization. As of February 21, more than 76,000 cases have been reported in China (opens in new tab).WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sounded the alarm over the spread of the virus from Iran, saying on Friday (opens in new tab), "We have to be very careful about the spread of the virus. If we do not, if we squander this opportunity, serious problems will be upon us."

The designer explained: "Supporting scientific research is a moral obligation for us. We hope that our contribution will help to solve this dramatic problem."

The designers also stated: "We hope that our contribution will help to solve this dramatic problem.

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