While cloth facemasksare now universal, clear plastic face shields are starting to become a public favorite and the new found curiosity has raised questions about how well they protect against COVID-19.
The corona virus is spread mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected individual coughs, sneezes or speaks. Transmission primarily occurs during close person-to-person contact and, less commonly, via contaminated surfaces.
Eli Perencevich, a professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine – believes that face shields could potentially be more effective than cloth face masks in a community setting.
In an opinion piece Perencevich cited a 2014 study from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that looked at how well face shields protected a health care worker against influenza. They found that the face shield reduced immediate viral exposure to the flu by 92%, when worn within 6 feet of a cough.
However, according to the CDC, facemasks are still the best deterrent of the virus and recommend facial coverings because there are currently no studies that examine how well face shields protect other individuals from the wearer’s own respiratory droplets, should they be infected.
Co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, HolgerSchunemann says, “Eye protection may provide additional benefits,”
After analyzing 44 studies across 26 countries and six continents from March - May 2020, the research team, suggested everyone wear eye protection; which could reduce the risk of infection from 16% to 6%, compared to those without eye protection.
Although physical distancing plays the greatest role in reducing the spread of COVID-19, face masks and eye protection were each highly effective.
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