The brand, which shuttered all of its UK stores due to the virus last week, said on Sunday that it would be utilising its supply chain capacity to start delivering protective medical equipment for doctors and nurses “as soon as possible”.

The retailer said new chief executive Helena Helmersson spoke with the European Union and “offered the company’s help”, and the brand “started to prepare the production of personal protective equipment for healthcare providers”.

H&M have suppliers all over the world, but the majority are based in China and other Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh and Vietnam.