Science is clear on the efficacy of face masks — it's proven to slow the spread of COVID-19. But what of face shields?
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Editor’s note: As we will report below, experts agree that face shields — and face masks — do not replace or relieve the need to wash your hands and social distance, and they absolutely do not alone prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As cases surge across the country, more than half of U.S. states require wearing face coverings while in public to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Many retailers have begun selling non-medical masks and masks with extra protection, like insertable filters or antimicrobial materials. Another new protective trend? Face shields. Shields comprise an often curved plate of plastic that hovers over the face, held in place by an adjustable strap worn around the head. Face shields range in style and design, from tinted plastic covers to baseball hats with a shield addition. But do you need a face shield? Are they more effective than masks? If you’re looking for more protection or a less restrictive face covering, we’ve consulted medical experts to break down how face shields work and how to best shop for one.
IN THIS ARTICLE How do face shields work? | Should you get one? | How to buy the right…
For several weeks, people have been required to wear a face-covering when they leave home. And while we now have a clearer path out of lockdown, it’s likely masks will be around for a while.
Meanwhile, people in other states with outbreaks have been encouraged to wear masks, and some people are simply choosing to wear one as a precaution.
But some people in the community, instead of opting for a traditional mask, are instead wearing a face shield.
This might offer some degree of protection — but it’s probably not as good as a mask in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
A face shield is a film made from plastic or other transparent material designed to be worn like a visor. It’s attached using a band that goes around the top of your head.
Think of a visor a welder wears to protect themselves from sparks and injury. Health-care workers use face shields to block bodily fluids from coming into contact with their faces and potentially causing infection.
It’s likely many people are choosing face shields during Covid-19 because they’re experiencing discomfort wearing a mask — whether glasses fogging up, irritation around the ears…
Science is clear on the efficacy of face masks — it's proven to slow the spread of COVID-19. But what of face shields?
You’ve probably seen someone wearing one in your neighborhood. It’s basically an individually sized salad bar sneeze guard attached to a headband.
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The advantages of a transparent plastic face shield over a face mask aren’t trivial. Breathing is easier while wearing a shield. Speech isn’t muffled like it can be through a mask. Eyeglasses are less likely to fog up. People wearing a full-face visor instead of a mask tend not to touch their mouth, nose and eyes as much.
You can see if a person is smiling at you through a face shield. With a face mask, you can’t know for sure if it’s grin or a scowl under the fabric.
Psychologists and speech therapists find that communicating…