THE Apple continues to propose actions to combat the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19), and the solution announced last Friday, along with the Google, is still watering his beard around the world.
In addition, the company’s only store in South Korea it will reopen later this month, marking the first such action since the closure of all the company’s units outside China.
Finally, the campaign profits (PRODUCT) RED – not only those who come from iGadgets – will be redirected to fight Coronavirus, as we will see later.
European Union and the fight against Coronavirus
All 27 European Union countries will be able to adopt the monitoring API proposed by Apple and Google to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a report by Reuters.
According to the information, the EU’s pandemic coping committee said last week that all member countries should adopt the same app or at least a common standard for this type of monitoring to be carried out, such as Pan-European Proximity and Privacy Preservation (PEPP-PT), an initiative proposed by European experts earlier this month.
However, a new publication from the European Commission on efforts against the pandemic said that the agency will review, by the end of this month, the solution proposed by the technology giants with regard to the contact tracking functionality, in order to “ensure that their initiative is compatible with the common EU approach ”.
Precisely for this reason, the committee asked Apple and Google to remove contact tracking apps from their respective stores, since many software do not follow proper privacy guidelines. According to them, “fighting the Coronavirus should not mean sacrificing citizens’ rights”.
Getting EU membership is only part of the process; thereafter, consumers need to feel confident installing and using them (which will likely be a “battle” in the United States).
Store reopening in South Korea
After more than a month behind closed doors, the only Apple store in South Korea (the Apple Garosugil) should reopen to the public on April 18 (this Saturday), with reduced capacity.
As we reported, the closing of Apple Stores due to the Coronavirus should have lasted, initially, until March 27; but, with the advance of the pandemic, Apple determined the closure of its stores (except in China) indefinitely.
At the end of last month, the company’s head of retail and people, Deirdre O’Brien, stated that the reopening would happen in a staggered way, based on the conditions of each region.
When the store in Seoul reopens, customers will be able to schedule meetings with specialists (Genius) and collect orders, with the company still encouraging the purchase of products online. In addition, the store hours were reduced in the first days of reopening and should be open from 12 pm to 8 pm (local time).
(PRODUCT) RED and fund to combat COVID-19
As we reported, with the launch of the new iPhone SE, Apple said it will direct part of the profits from the sale of campaign products (PRODUCT) RED for the COVID-19 Response Mechanism, an initiative of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Council.
Originally, the revenue obtained from part of the sales of products (PRODUCT) RED was already directed towards this same global fund; however, given the emergence of the pandemic, the efforts of the campaign as a whole (which includes several products) will be directed in the battle against the Coronavirus until the end of September.
Apple says the COVID-19 Response Mechanism will provide critical support in countries with health systems most threatened by outbreaks, but that it will also preserve life-saving HIV / AIDS programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The funds obtained will be used to purchase personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, in addition to equipment for laboratories, public safety communications, etc.
via 9to5Mac [1, 2], AppleInsider
