15 Tech Giants That Are Taking Action to Fight the Coronavirus Outbreak

With COVID-19 rampaging its way around the world, many healthcare systems are being put under very serious strain. In response, various tech giants have announced that they plan to help lighten the load where they can.

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What are tech giants to help combat the Coronavirus?

So, without further ado, these 15 companies have announced their plans to help fight coronavirus. This list is far from exhaustive and is in no particular order.

1. Some tech giants are rushing to create new ventilators

Tech giants like Airbus, McLaren, and Nissan are rushing to create thousands of new ventilators in the United Kingdom. Responding to a rallying call from the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, these companies are pulling out all the stops to help deliver the much-needed equipment.

PM Johnson said: 'We have, we think, a good supply at the moment but we need to get far more.' 

At present, the UK has somewhere in the region of 8,175 ventilators available. That is about half the number per head as Italy which has experienced higher death rates than China of late. 

These machines are of vital importance for treating the most severe cases of the disease when critical patients experience severe symptoms like struggling to breathe. Industries have been asked by the UK Government to create and deliver around 5,000 ventilators a month.

The aim is to produce 30,000 in total over the next few months. 

2. Cisco has committed to donating hundreds of millions of dollars

Cisco is another tech giant that has stepped up to the plate to help combat COVID-19. In an official statement, they have committed to donating $225 million in cash, in-kind, and planned-giving to global and local initiatives struggling to defeat coronavirus. 

They have also committed to rallying their 77,000+ employees to help community partners on the front lines.

"Last week, I shared our commitment to helping our customers, partners, and people around the world take advantage of technology in this time of massive and sudden transformation. Since then, a lot has changed.

Many of us are adjusting to working from home and social distancing while all of us are working to understand this new normal. Through all this, one thing has become clear – Cisco must, and will, do even more to help others respond to this global pandemic." - Cisco. 

3. Amazon is also doing their part

Amazon has announced that they will be doubling their employee's overtime pay for those who work in their warehouses. This is an initiative to help support their beleaguered staff as demand for their services has exploded.

Those workers who rack up over 40 hours will receive double, not 1.5 times, their overtime pay between March and May. 

"My own time and thinking [are] now wholly focused on COVID-19 and on how Amazon can best play its role," Jeff Bezos said in an online announcement.

Bezos has also announced that he has ordered "millions" of face masks to protect his staff. But, as they are in short supply, these masks are going to "highest-need facilities" like hospitals under the direction of the government. 

4. Royal Phillips is also helping the fight against COVID-19

Royal Phillips is another tech giant that has announced they will do what they can to help out. They are a global leader in health technology and have broadcast the fact that they are increasing the production of certain critical care products and solutions to help treat coronavirus sufferers.

"The most needed products are patient vital signs monitors and portable ventilators and medical consumables for non-invasive and invasive ventilation to treat a broad range of respiratory conditions.

Other Philips products and solutions to help address the preparedness, response and recovery needs of COVID-19 include a range of diagnostic imaging systems (CT, mobile diagnostic X-ray, and ultrasound) to help diagnose and assess respiratory conditions, as well as hospital telehealth solutions to centrally monitor and manage patients in the intensive care units (Philips eICU program), and telehealth solutions to connect caregivers and patients at home. " - Royal Philips. 

5. TikTok is also planning to help global health workers

TikTok is another tech giant who has announced that they're planning to alleviate the pressure caused by COVID-19. In a public announcement, the company has committed itself to donate $10 million to the World Health Organization Solidarity Response Fund. 

"This fund helps the WHO carry out vitally important work, including sending essential supplies to front line health care workers, ensuring communities have access to the latest science-based information, and accelerating efforts to discover life-saving treatments or vaccines. Alongside many great companies and individuals, we're passionate about doing our small part to contribute to this important cause and the critical work the fund enables." - TikTok. 

6. Intel is also doing their part

Intel is yet another tech giant who has announced their intention to help with the fight against COVID-19. In an announcement on Monday, the company said they would source and donate more than 1 million items of the personal protective company. 

“We will donate masks, gloves, face shields and other gear that we have sourced from our factory stock and emergency supplies, and we’ll continue to look for additional sources of personal protective equipment that we can source and donate as quickly as possible to meet our commitment of more than a million items,” Todd Brady, director of Global Public Affairs for Intel said. 

Intel will work with local health authorities and government agencies around the world to make this a reality. They have also announced that they will make a $1 million donation to the International Red Cross. 

7. Edison HealthOS are working on an opensource 3D printable ventilator

Now 3D printing the Edison HealthOS open sourced ventilator design. Will finalize their designs and publish them tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wu6iE4EI22

— Shervin Pishevar (@shervin) March 23, 2020

Edison HealthOS have announced that they are working on an opensource 3D printable ventilator. They are currently refining the design and plan on releasing the 3D models as soon as they are able.

Being opensource, anyone will be able to create their own ventilators so long as they have a 3D printer. This initiative will go along way to helping provide much-needed ventilators to many parts of the world. 

8. Apple has also pledged to help supply masks to help with COVID-19

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

Apple's CEO Tim Cook recently made an announcement that Apple will attempt to secure and donate "millions of masks". Cook made the announcement on Twitter and said the masks would be supplied to health professionals around the U.S. and Europe.

Cook also took the opportunity to thank those critical workers on the front lines for doing such a great job of helping those in need. 

9. Tesla has committed to making ventilators to help protect workers

We expect to have over ~1200 to distribute this week. Getting them delivered, installed & operating is the harder part.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2020

Tesla has announced that they intend to help manufacture ventilators to help beleaguered healthcare centers. They plan on making somewhere in the region of 1,200 within the week and deliver them to where they are needed the most.

Elon Musk has also announced that they have thousands of N95 masks that they will also donate to hospitals. 

10. Dell has also pledged to donate millions to the fight

Dell announced last week that they also plan to chip to help fight the spread of COVID-19. They have pledged to donate at least $4 million to help fund front-line organizations who are in the thick of the fight against the virus.

"We must protect each other and especially our most vulnerable – our elderly and those with underlying conditions,” Dell's CEO and founder Michael Dell said. “At the same time, we are managing the impact on our own business and supply chain operations, so we can take care of you. Whether enabling a remote workforce, ensuring business continuity, powering the technology for infectious disease prevention and control, or providing simple, human advice, support, and friendship – we are here to help.”

11. Google has established a special fund to fight Coronavirus

Google is yet another tech giant who is planning to help fight the spread of the virus. They recently established their COVID-19 fund that will help temporary staff and vendors, globally, to take paid sick leave, should they show any symptoms of infection.

It is also designed for anyone who is unable to work at home while they are under quarantine. Google has also made its video conferencing service, "Hangouts Meet", available for all G-suite customers until the summer. 

12. LinkedIn is offering some of its courses for free

LinkedIn has recently announced that it plans to make 16 of its learning courses free for the foreseeable future. The courses provide tips on how to stay productive, build relationships when you’re not face-to-face, use virtual meeting tools, and balance family and work dynamics in a healthy way. 

13. UberEats and DoorDash are also doing their part

UberEats and DoorDash have recently announced that they are waiving any and all commission fees for their independent restaurant partners. The announcement was made via email to relevant parties and it also outlined their plans for keeping their drivers and customers safe during the pandemic.

14. Adobe is also stepping up to the plate

Adobe is yet another tech giant that is planning on doing what they can to make life a little easier during the pandemic. They have announced that they will be giving higher education and K-12 institutional customers' students and teachers access to their Creative Cloud apps from the safety of their own homes.

This is planned to be available until late May this year, at no additional cost. It is also available globally. 

15. Loom has pledged to help students and teachers

Loom, a video recording and sharing service, has announced it will be doing its part to help students and teachers out while schools are closed. They are offering access to their service for free to teachers and students at K-12 schools, universities, and educational institutions.

Loom has also removed any recording limits they impose on free plans and has cut the price for Loom Pro in half.