Chamber donates face masks to Bronx

New York City has worked hard to keep coronavirus infection rates low since its economic reopening, and the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce wants to lend a hand to keep it that way.

The North American and New York branch of the chamber donated 50,000 face masks to distribute where needed.

“The COVID-19 pandemic hit our borough very hard, affecting us all as a community,” Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., said, in a release. “But so many in the private sector have stepped up to contribute in any way they can to stop the spread of infection.”

Joey Chiang, president of the Taiwanese chamber, said the donation “signifies the love from Taiwan and shows solidarity to the city where many Taiwanese Americans call home.

“It is our common responsibility to keep the curve flattened, and the best way to do it is wearing masks.”

MTA wants Apple to upgrade iPhones

The Bronx might be distributing masks, but the MTA hopes it can convince one of the world’s wealthiest companies to help make sure commuters keep their masks on.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is imploring Apple Inc., to upgrade the facial recognition software on its high-end iPhones that would allow the phone to recognize a user, even if they are wearing a face mask.

Premium iPhone models have a feature where  a phone will unlock for a user based on a face scan. But in order for it to work, the iPhone requires its user to have nothing else on his or her face.

MTA chief executive Patrick Foye send a letter to his Apple counterpart, Tim Cook, encouraging him to speed up work on upgrading the technology to function better in a pandemic-stricken world.

More money for COVID-19 tests

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have helped secure more than $11.6 million to fund coronavirus diagnostic testing in the state.

Most of that money will go to the state health department, with another $1.3 million earmarked for Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services Inc.