Photo: Omid Armin/Unsplash CC
In order to quell the spread of COVID, at least one Apple supplier has had to set up coronavirus “bubbles” for employees on its production lines, essentially sealing them off from the outside world.
According to a Tuesday report by Nikkei Asia, several factories in Vietnam — including one owned by AirPods manufacturer GoerTek — have taken the precautionary measures as COVID cases ramp up in the country.
It notes that:
“The bubbles were first required in the south but are spreading to places from central Da Nang, where authorities have warned factories that sleepovers may become necessary, to northern Bac Ninh, where AirPods assembler GoerTek has pitched orange and purple tents for workers, according to footage on state TV.”
Bubbled employees stay on campus 24/7. (Although some other companies appear to be providing transportation to and from home, thereby ensuring people do not set foot outside of these two environments.)
COVID in Vietnam
This comes as Vietnam experiences its worst brush with COVID yet. On Sunday, it reported a record 5,926 cases. That’s almost 4x the figure for the entirety of 2020. Vietnam has vaccinated just 4% of its population due to a shortage of available doses.
Workers for Apple suppliers living on-campus isn’t exactly new. Mega factories like Foxconn have long had their own on-site dormitories for people working on production lines. During COVID, other manufacturers have also had quarantine procedures in place at various times. Nonetheless, it’s a reminder that COVID is far from over — especially in parts of the world that have not been fortunate enough to have the kind of vaccine rollout seen in places like the US.
Apple has been increasingly focused on Vietnam for manufacturing in recent years. This is as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on China.
Source: Nikkei Asia
AirPods manufacturers sleeping in factory ‘bubbles’ to avoid COVID
Source: Pinays Guide
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