Coronavirus: Apple to make protective gear for medical workers

Tech giant Apple – best known for phones and computers – has now decided to make face shields for the medical workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

In this regard, Apple chief executive Tim Cook took to Twitter and said that the company had already sourced 20 million surgical masks from around the world to help address a global shortage.

Tim Cook further said, “However, the company had also designed its own transparent protective face shield,” adding “The tech giant has pulled in designers, engineers, and suppliers to shape, produce and ship the face shields.”

Apple has also decided to make one million shields a week and announced that the shields will be shipped first to United States medical workers and then distributed globally.

Apple is dedicated to supporting the worldwide response to COVID-19. We’ve now sourced over 20M masks through our supply chain. Our design, engineering, operations and packaging teams are also working with suppliers to design, produce and ship face shields for medical workers. pic.twitter.com/3xRqNgMThX

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 5, 2020

Tim cook said, “This is a truly global effort, and we’re working continuously and closely with governments at all levels to ensure these are donated to places of greatest need.”

He further said, “In both these efforts, our focus is on unique ways Apple can help, meeting essential needs of caregivers urgently and at a scale, the circumstances require,” adding, “For Apple, this is a labour of love and gratitude, and we will share more of our efforts over time.”

With a worldwide shortage of hospital equipment such as ventilators and protective gear for medical workers, organisations, educational institutions and individuals have been joining the effort to meet the demand.