Amid coronavirus crisis, Apple starts making face shields for doctors
As the novel coronavirus disease continues to wreak havoc across countries, Apple is coming up with innovative ways to support healthcare workers and doctors in need. The company has already been donating masks in conjunction with various governments, and now, to double down on that effort, it has started making and shipping protective 'face shields' for doctors. Here's all about them.
Tim Cook's update on face shields
A few hours ago, Apple's chief Tim Cook took to Twitter to note that the company is bringing together its design, engineering, operations, packaging teams, and suppliers to manufacture and ship 'face shields' for health workers. The product, as the name suggests, is a transparent mask, which can cover the full face of the wearer, protecting them from contracting the novel coronavirus.
Cook showcased a shield, says they're assembled in two minutes
In the same video, Cook showcased the shield, noting that it's fully adjustable according to the wearer's needs and is assembled in two minutes. "These pack flat, one hundred to a box," the Apple boss said while adding that the company had supplied one shipment of the shield to Kaiser Hospital facilities in the Santa Clara Valley, and the feedback has been "very positive."
Over one million shields to be shipped by weekend
Cook said that the company is "sourcing materials and manufacturing for the shields in the US and China" and planning to ship over one million units by the end of this week and over million per week after that. As of now, the shipments would only be directed to facilities in the US but the company is going to expand distribution to other countries.
"We will share more efforts over time"
Along with these shields, Apple has donated funds to support the relief work being done by health organizations in the US and elsewhere; it has also sourced over 20 million face masks for worldwide distribution. "Our focus is on unique ways Apple can help, meeting the essential needs of caregivers urgently," Cook said while indicating that Apple will take more such steps over time.
