How do face shields and masks protect against Covid-19?

Posted by William Jaxson on February 17th, 2021

With the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to run rampant throughout the country, many people are still unclear about what the best protections against the virus are. Professional face shields and masks are now a part of many households, but it’s worth breaking down the differences between the two and figuring out the best practice for keeping yourself and others safe.

Are face shields a good substitute for masks?

These tools tend to work better for different things, so one can’t really substitute for the other. But that doesn’t mean face shields don’t have a place in your arsenal of protective gear.

Face shields have been used by medical professionals for decades because they are great at protecting the mouth, nose, face, and eyes from coming into contact with bodily fluids and aerosol water particles, and the viruses and bacteria they contain.

A professional face shield works by providing a barrier for high-velocity particles that are flying towards your face. However, a face shieldwon’t protect you from aerosol particles that linger in the air and can be inhaled through the sides of the shield.

In essence, face shields work like a car’s windshield – they stop the high-velocity air and particles coming your way. However, if your car’s side windows are down, some air and aerosol particles will still get inside your car.

So while a face shieldoffers very good protection when you’re in a one-on-one conversation with someone in front of you, they are not sufficient for a crowded indoor place like a supermarket.

Additionally, a professional face shield doesn’t really protect others from the aerosol particles you release when you talk and breathe – those tend to go below the shield.

Do face shields work well in combination with masks?

This is where face shields really shine against Covid-19. While the mask provides protection from lingering air particles, the face shieldprotects you from things flying at your face, eyes and the sides of your mask. This allows you to be as protected as possible wherever you go.

That being said, social distancing and proper hygiene are still crucial for additional protection. However, these things are not always possible in places such as airports and airplanes, supermarkets, and other indoor gatherings, so the shield-mask combo could be a literal lifesaver for both you and those around you.

Why do some medical professionals use face shields only?

Face shields can be sufficient on their own when all you’re worried about is the direct transmission of fluids and aerosol particles coming from a single direction – usually the patient. That’s how many medical professionals have been using face shields for years.

The use of masks, on the other hand, was usually done to protect patients from the doctors themselves during operations.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has complicated things a lot and the combination of shields and masks has now become the new norm, at least for the time being.