A few days ago, the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications denied rumors of the link between the 5G technology and the spread of the contagious disease, COVID-19. At the same time, the institution announced that with the help of the 5G technology, the world could deal with the epidemic threat much faster, for example by implementing solutions based on artificial intelligence, which would relieve healthcare workers.

Groups of people with a negative attitude towards the development of the 5G technology maintain that radio waves have a bad impact on health and immunity, and can be used as a surveillance tool. However, there is no evidence that devastation of telecommunications towers is directly linked to these concerns as the perpetrators have not yet been caught.

This conspiracy theory has spread rapidly in social media. Keri Hilson, an American singer with 4.2 million Twitter followers, sent several tweets last month trying to connect the coronavirus to 5G. In early April, actor Woody Harrelson followed suit by linking the 5G development to the virus.

Academic centres and institutions of public trust quickly denied the rumors and launched an information campaign.

Among the speakers was NHS Medical Director Michael Gove who said that he is “outraged and disgusted” by people who claim that 5G masts are the real cause of the coronavirus outbreak.

– This story about 5G has no credence scientifically and is certainly a potential distraction, as is other such misinformation, from controlling the COVID-19 epidemic – said dr Jonathan M. Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health.

In response to widespread misinformation, social media and streaming services such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter will remove any posts that could potentially be misleading for the community.

Uber announced that it has signed a partnership with a major French supermarket chain Carrefour to provide the citizens of Paris with express home delivery of selected grocery products, including basic foods, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

The service will initially include 15 stores around the French capital, although Uber Eats says there are plans to roll it out nationwide in the next couple of weeks.

In Spain, the company has cooperated with the Galp service station brand to bring out a grocery delivery service including everyday foods, over the counter medicines, beverages, and cleaning supplies in 15 different cities across 8 provinces. In addition to the Uber Eats app, phone deliveries will also be made available to those that do not have access to a smartphone or Internet.

It is also worth mentioning that Glovo, the company’s main competitor, has already penned a partnership with Carrefour for grocery delivery services in various markets, including its home country of Spain. It might explain why Uber Eats chose a different partner in this particular market.

The third country Uber Eats has partnered with is Brazil, where the company signed a deal with a number of pharmacies, convenience stores, and pet shops in the Sao Paulo area.

This is not the company’s first venture into grocery delivery services, as it already has deals in place with Coles, an Australian supermarket chain, as well as Costcutter in the UK, giving access to 600 independent convenience stores via its app.

When asked about the likelihood of extending its grocery delivery services to other markets affected by the pandemic, Uber Eats responded by saying it’s currently exploring opportunities to cooperate with more supermarkets, convenience stores, and various retailers worldwide.

source: TechCrunch

Ekholm also emphasised the significance of effective communication during crisis situations and ensured that Ericsson is working to provide the best connectivity solutions based on regular customer feedback. The company predicts that in Q1 of 2020, the pandemic will have either limited impact on its customer base or will remain unaffected. According to Ericsson’s forecast, in the next quarter, the company should be able to meet demand by implementing specific measures to counteract the effects of the pandemic.

Ericsson further stated that all of its production plants were operating as normal. The company’s facility in China had been shut down until 9 February as a result of local government restrictions, but it was reopened the next day. The company’s leading production plants are located around the globe – in the US, Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Estonia, and Poland. Ericsson has already implemented the infrastructure to support remote working, which multiple employees are currently taking advantage of.

source: telecompaper