Apple Designing and Producing 1 Million Face Shields for COVID-19 Medical Workers Per Week, Shares Assembly Instructions

Apple has shared a support document that shows off the design as well as how to assemble and adjust its face shields.

Over the weekend, Tim Cook took to Twitter to announce that Apple would not only continue its mission to supply the medical community with millions of protective masks but would also be working to manufacture and provide protective face shields as well.

“Teams across Apple have been working hard on ways we can support our heroic front-line medical professionals,” Cook said, explaining that the fully adjustable shields pack flat and can be assembled in two minutes. “The feedback from doctors was very positive.”

“We plan to ship over 1 million by the end of this week and over 1 million per week after that,” he said.

The face shield is separated into three parts: a forehead band, a latex-free silicone strap, and the face shield itself. Cook says that the design allows them to pack flat with a hundred to a box and workers are able to assemble and adjust them in less than two minutes.

Apple on Monday also published instructions to its website on how to assemble and adjust the face shields. The instructions include methods for sterilizing and reusing face shields.

Apple is recommending that those using its face shield to avoid exposure to high heat and, of course, handle the equipment gently so that it does not get damaged from drops or scratches.

The company says that the face shield has been made to be cleaned and reusable. According to Apple, the following chemicals have been approved for use in cleaning the shield:

  • 70% Ethanol
  • 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
  • 6% Bleach (may leave a residue on the face shield)
  • 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

Apple includes a video of the assembly process, as well as instructions for use and a printable PDF of the instruction sheet that comes in the box with the shields.

Cook said the company is coordinating with health and government officials across the US to get the shields delivered where they’re needed and hopes to expand distribution beyond the US quickly.

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