Apple Is Making 1 Million Face Shields Per Week for Medical Workers

From House Beautiful

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the U.S.—leaving many medical personnel with a lack of personal protective equipment—many non-medical companies are stepping in to bridge the gap. On Twitter, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple is creating and donating a million face shields per week to give to health care workers on the frontlines of the pandemic.

In a video posted to Twitter, Cook shared two updates. The first is that Apple has been able to source 20 million face masks around the world. "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 says in the video. The second update is that Apple has launched a company-wide effort to design, produce, and ship face shields for medical workers. The first shipment of face shields was delivered to Kaiser hospital facilities in the Santa Clara Valley this past week.

In the video, Cook says the face shields pack flat and fit 100 to a box. Each shield can be assembled in less than two minutes and is fully adjustable. To create the shields, Apple is sourcing materials and manufacturing in the U.S. and China. It plans on shipping 1 million face shields this week, and 1 million more every week after that. Apple is coordinating with medical professionals and government officials across the country to deliver the face shields to where they're need most urgently. The company hopes to expand distribution beyond the U.S. soon.

"In both these efforts, our focus is on unique ways Apple can help, meeting essential needs of caregivers' needs urgently, and at a scale the circumstances require, Cook says. Apple will share more of its efforts over time. "In the meantime, each of us can stop the spread of the virus by following expert advice to stay home and practice social distancing."

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

You Might Also Like

• 7 Secrets HomeGoods Employees Won't Tell You

• 19 Closet Organization Ideas You'll Want to Steal Immediately

• 15 Styling Tricks That Make A Small Living Room Seem Bigger Than It Is