Apple To Release ‘COVID-19’ app with White House
In an announcement on Friday, March 27, both Apple Inc and White House announced the development of an app called ‘COVID-19’. According to the White House, the app will ask users about their symptoms, location and risk factors to give them better guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Apple stock (AAPL) started regaining value last week after weeks losing value and this might help the trend.
This is not the first measure taken by Apple to fight against the pandemic. Apple’s headquarters have been in lockdown for over a week in California. Also, Apple donated 10 million protective masks to U.S. health care groups.
Lack of demand worry Apple’s suppliers
Even though Apple factories started running again after the reopening of China’s economy, there is a doubt about how many people will be willing to buy current or new iPhone models across the world. Since the U.S. and Europe are still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, their demand may have an impact as a whole.
“No one is talking about manpower or material shortage (in China) anymore. Now everyone is looking at whether demand from the U.S. and Europe could keep up,” said a senior official from Apple, who has direct knowledge of the matter. “The focus now is the demand from consumers in the U.S. and Europe.”
One key display supplier of Apple is considering a contraction in the number of sales. The company is now considering reducing the early target of 70 million units sold of the new iPhone to 58 million, a 17% decrease.
Apple Stores May Reopen In April
Apple retail stores can reopen in April. According to Bloomberg, the iPhone maker told their staff that some of its retail stores can start to open again as soon as the first half of April. All these details were written on a memo from Senior Vice President of People and Retail Deirdre O’Brien.
“For all of our retail stores outside of Greater China, we will reopen our stores on a staggered basis. At this time, we anticipate some stores may be able to open in the first half of April depending on the conditions in their community,” O’Brien wrote. “We will provide updates for each store as soon as specific dates are established.”
All of 458 Apple stores outside Great China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan were shut down in March indefinitely. The 42 stores in China, that were already closed, reopened this month.
