In a new study, researchers found that face shields might replace masks as a more comfortable and more effective deterrent to COVID-19.
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Iowa.
According to the team, face shields have a number of advantages over masks.
They are endlessly reusable, simply requiring cleaning with soap and water or common disinfectants.
Shields are usually more comfortable to wear than masks, and they form a barrier that keeps people from easily touching their own faces.
In addition, when speaking, people sometimes pull down a mask to make things easier—but that isn’t necessary with a face shield.
The use of a face shield is also a reminder to maintain social distancing, but it allows visibility of facial expressions and lip movements for speech perception.
To be most effective in stopping the viral spread, the team says that a face shield should extend to below the chin.
It should also cover the ears and there should be no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece.
A previous simulation study has shown that face shields could reduce immediate viral exposure by 96% when worn by a simulated health care worker within 18 inches of a cough.
When the study was repeated at the currently recommended physical distancing distance of 6 feet, face shields reduced inhaled virus by 92%.
Currently, no studies have yet been conducted to see how well face shields help keep exhaled or coughed virus from spreading outwards from an infected wearer.
The researchers hope that studies on that issue will be conducted.
And they stressed that face shields should only be one part of any infection control effort, along with social distancing and hand-washing.
One author of the study is Dr. Eli Perencevich from the university’s department of internal medicine.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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