Face shields 96% protective

Millions of South Africans have started wearing masks in public as per government regulations.

Many, however, prefer the clear, plastic face shields used by many healthcare workers.

Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association (Sama), says no mask or shield will protect a person 100% against contracting Covid-19 but that she would recommend a face shield that fits properly.

“A mask or shield simply ensures that your chances of being infected are less. Wearing a plastic shield in front of your face, should it fit well and be worn correctly, would also make it very difficult for the wearer to touch his or her face,” she said.

In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, University of Iowa experts led by Dr Eli Perencevich of the university’s department of internal medicine, also advocate the use of shields.

The use of cloth masks provides some filtration of virus-sized aerosol particles, but face shields may be a better option.

To be effective, a face shield should extend to below the chin and cover the ears, and there should be no gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece, the Iowa team members said.

Shields have advantages over masks in that they can be reused by simply cleaning them with soap and water or common disinfectant. They are usually more comfortable to wear and form a barrier that keeps people from easily touching their own faces

In a simulation study, face shields were shown to reduce immediate viral exposure by 96% when worn by a simulated healthcare worker within 45cm of a cough, and when the study was repeated at a physical distance of 1.8m, face shields reduced the inhaled virus by 92%.

No studies have yet been conducted to see how well face shields help keep exhaled or coughed virus particles from spreading. – Caxton News Service