Why it matters: Technology has permeated into every aspect of human life, but lockdown measures could have immeasureable consequences on the companies that piece it together using complex global supply chains. That's why chipmakers are asking the government to come up with solutions to prevent their factories from grinding to a halt.

The coronavirus pandemic has already left its mark on almost every industry and is testing the limits of the medical systems in countries from Europe, and, given the current rate of newly confirmed cases of infection, the US.