SYDNEY, March 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Australian cricket great Shane Warne has
halted production of gin at a distillery he co-owns to make medical-grade
hand sanitiser for hospitals in these “challenging times”.
The spin legend, who played 145 Tests, responded to Prime Minister Scott
Morrison’s plea for companies to help wherever they can during the spiralling
coronavirus crisis.
“This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we
can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives,” Warne
said on his Instagram page.
“I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage
others to do the same.”
Warne is a co-founder in the company alongside two prominent surgeons with
an agreement in place to supply two Western Australian hospitals with hand
sanitiser at cost.
The company halted gin production earlier this week and is now pumping out
70-percent alcohol hand sanitiser indefinitely.
“Great work Shane and team. We need leaders in the community to stand up —
you have always been and are one,” said one of his social media followers.
It follows a similar move by a distillery in Ireland, with hand sanitiser
in short supply in many countries battling the virus.
Australia has so far seen more than 750 confirmed cases of the coronavirus,
with seven deaths from the disease.