What are the benefits of wearing a protective hood or face shield?
The new coronavirus spreads mostly through droplets expelled from an infected person coughing, sneezing or talking. Face shields cover the eyes, mouth and nose - the areas of potential infection. A face shield covers more of the face than a mask, so infected droplets are less likely to land anywhere near your eyes, mouth or nose.
A meta-analysis that looked at nearly 26,000 patients affected by COVID-19 published in medical journal Lancet in June 2020 found "eye protection might result in a large reduction in virus infection". In health-care settings, eye protection reduced risk compared to no eye protection in 13 studies, says co-author Derek Chu of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
"Unversal face shielding would help stop the outbreak and let people have less restrictions on what they do." says Dr. Michael Edmond, an infectious desease doctor in an opionion piece. JAMA, April 2020
"Shields can be easier to wear for prolonged periods, especially for those with breathing problems. You may also be less likely to touch your face while wearing a shield." says Dr. Michael Edmond, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.
