MILPITAS, CA – SEMI has urged global government representatives to designate the semiconductor industry as an essential business, so operations at companies across the chip supply chain can continue without interruption as the spread of Covid-19 continues.

SEMI president and CEO Ajit Manocha assured officials that SEMI members “are employing all measures necessary to maintain the health and safety of their employees and local communities” to help contain the virus.

Manocha last week sent letters to the governors of 16 states and the chairs of the National Governors Association, US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and National Association of Counties requesting consideration of the semiconductor industry as an essential business if shelter-in-place or similar orders are issued to curb the spread of Covid-19. More than half of US states have imposed shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders in the past month. The designation would allow SEMI members to maintain continuous operations to ensure manufacturing of components for critical infrastructure equipment, the defense industrial base, and other vital technological products and services is not jeopardized.

Semiconductors are the foundation of modern electronics and information technology and are critical in helping health workers effectively treat Covid-19 symptoms, Manocha told officials. The devices also play a central role in containing its spread by enabling artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital communications, telemedicine, robotics, remote health monitoring, telecommuting, online shopping and other digital services.

Manocha urged state and local officials to follow guidelines issued on Mar. 19 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) identifying “manufacturers and supply chain vendors that provide hardware and software and information technology equipment (to include microelectronics and semiconductors) for critical infrastructure as ‘essential critical infrastructure workers.’”

Most states issuing shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders have followed the DHS guidelines and/or separately designated the semiconductor industry an essential business. Likewise, other nations have recognized the power of technology in effectively containing Covid-19 and similarly designated the semiconductor industry an essential business.

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