Amid concerns that hospitals aren"t equipped with basic supplies for healthcare workers to treat the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are offering their services to make up for the shortfall. Tim Cook, CEO at Apple, stated that the company is donating "millions" of masks to healthcare workers in the U.S. and Europe (via Engadget). While he did not explicitly state the number of masks being donated, Vice President Mike Pence revealed in a press briefing that 2 million N95 masks were being donated by Apple.
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 an effort to curb the virus, Apple has taken numerous initiatives, which include closing its stores indefinitely and committing $15 million for relief efforts. Moreover, Apple Cards owners can skip their March payments without interest, the company has stated. The company also pledged a "substantial donation" to assist first responders and medical personnel in Italy.