Apple now makes face shields

The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, has tweeted an update to the company’s COVID-19 crisis statement, where he previously announced their teams were “working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19”. 

Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We’re donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 21, 2020

In a video update, Cook says the tech giant has sourced over 20-million masks through smart movements in its global supply chain. Apple is now working with governments to send them where they’re needed most. 

Cook showed off one of the shields designed by Apple in the video update (below). He said Apple has brought together product designers, engineers, operations, packaging teams, and suppliers to design the masks. 

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

Its first shipment went to a hospital in the Santa Clara Valley last week and the feedback from doctors was very positive, say Cook. The shields pack flat and one hundred can fit in a box. Cook says the masks can be assembled in under two minutes and allows for safe adjustability. The materials are from the US and China. 

Apple forecasts that it would have shipped a million shields by Sunday, followed by another million next week.