Foxconn Has Reportedly Seen 'Fairly Small Impact' From Coronavirus Outbreak, But That Could Change

Monday February 3, 2020 7:52 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple's largest manufacturing partner Foxconn has seen a "fairly small impact" from the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak so far, but the company could face a "big" impact to its iPhone production if the Chinese government forces factories to remain closed for an additional week or longer, according to Reuters.

The report claims that Foxconn has halted "almost all" of its production in China through February 9 as ordered, but its factories in other countries such as Vietnam, India, and Mexico have apparently been able to fill the gap for now.

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The timing of the coronavirus outbreak could impact supply of the new lower-cost iPhone that Apple is expected to announce in March. Bloomberg recently reported that production of the device was slated to begin in February, but the coronavirus outbreak could delay that timeframe.

Given that Apple typically sources components from multiple suppliers, and that Foxconn has factories outside of China, it is likely that Apple will still release the lower-cost iPhone in March, even if supply is limited at launch.

Last week, the World Health Organization declared the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak a global public health emergency. More information about the virus and how to protect yourself is available on the agency's website.

Tags: COVID-19 Coronavirus Guide, Foxconn

Top Rated Comments

vmistery

80 months ago

Glad to hear they are following the rules. Personally I’d rather they prioritise human life over manufacturing, if experts recommend a further closure then I hope they do that too. At the end of the day if my 12 down the road gets delayed for a month I really don’t care.

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

EugW

80 months ago

Who cares about iPad Pros?

I and a lot of other people on MacRumors, of course.

From a personal point of view, I have very little interest in the iPhone 9 / SE2, because nobody in my family will be buying one. As for the fall iPhones, I suspect the 2019-nCoV outbreak will have little impact on those, unless this outbreak reaches near-apocalyptic proportions.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Solomani

80 months ago

Have people never ever seen pictures of Chinese iPhone/iPad factory workers in their assembly lines? Uhhhhhhh.... many of them were already wearing protective masks. Like billions of years ago. The factories simply have to change the mask types to the ones that also provide anti-microbial protection. Below are images of FoxConn employees from years ago, long before the coronavirus outbreak. 😷

Yes, not all factory workers wear masks (in certain production areas where they are deemed unnecessary). But the factory could easily mandate that they all do when there are dozens/hundreds of employees present in one gigantic assembly room working alongside each other. Easily done.

So YES, I am inclined to believe FoxConn when they say there could be just "fairly small impact" on production. Yes, the coronavirus will have an impact. But things like diligent masking, PPD, policies to send home workers (or tell them to stay home) who show signs symptoms (cough, fever, etc), and use of other protection could very well minimize the impact.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

EugW

80 months ago

I am shocked Mac Rumors would even write the story and people here would give a crap about some first world problem like OMG a delay in a $399 iPhone or any other product. This is a global pandemic that could alter the world. It’s time we all think first and foremost about how people are affected in a potential worldwide crisis rather than our precious iPhones or AAPL stock. Life matters, and stopping the virus matters - it’s not about corporate profits or God forbid a delayed iPad Pro!

Err... It's an Apple rumour site. It says so right in the name. Of course they're going to write about potential Apple product delays.

In fact, I think they'd be remiss NOT to talk about it.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Solomani

80 months ago

They gave everyone a mask. All wearing the same mask. I believe Foxconn provides housing for employees so they must have figured if we don't let them out then they can't come back in bringing any Coronaviruses back.

They normally wear the basic face masks. I do wonder if they got them better N95 or N99 masks

I work in the ICU. I know all about the 3M N95 (aka "respirator") masks that we have to wear as hospital staff. They are significantly more expensive (piece by piece) than those flimsy blue "simple face masks".

Not only do I have to wear the N95 masks on (certain) isolation patients. It is also mandatory that I must pass an (N95) mask fit test every single year. It's also mandated that I take a TB (tuberculosis) skin test every year as well. I typically wear the N95s on "rule out TB" patients, because that is the most common airborne infection where the N95 respirators are mandatory for use. We are NOT required to wear the N95 masks for the common "seasonal" influenza, the blue simple face masks are standard for that.

However, special flu-like variants like H1N1, the Avian Flu, swine flu.... those are cases where most citizens are not vaccinated against, those are the other microbes that I also remember having to gown up and wear the N95s before entering the patient's room.

One of my co-workers (a few years ago) failed to pass his N95 mask fit test. He was suspended for a couple of days, until he finally passed it. I think it had something to do with his bushy beard, preventing a good tight seal. There are several sizes of N95 masks, and as employees we are told to choose the one that is the best fit for our faces.

P.S. --- the same 3M-branded N95 masks are the ones in the news, reportedly sold out in many retail chains. Even worse, on eBay and Amazon several counterfeit companies have been (opportunistically) selling the "N95 masks" pretending to be the real 3M product, until they get caught. They profit from people's fears during a growing pandemic.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)