These face shields you can wear over a face mask to amp up your protection against Coronavirus
Can you wear a face visor instead of a face mask? Are they a good alternative to fabric face coverings if you find the latter uncomfortable? We've got all the intel, plus the best visors to shop.
We’ve been doing the whole face mask thing for months now, making our own Coronavirus face coverings from bandanas and spare hair ties, or searching high and low for where to buy face masks that look stylish (kinda) and do a good job at keeping us safe.
But since face masks became mandatory in shops, on public transport and in private hire taxis (and as a first-time offence fine for not wearing one was increased to £200 as of Tuesday 22nd September), we’re seeing the rise of an alternative. And that’s the humble face shield. They're widely used to protect workers in shops, bars and hair and beauty salons from the virus. Clunky? Yes. Stylish? Not particularly. But effective in slowing the spread of Coronavirus? The jury was out on that one, so we thought we'd do a bit of research...
What is a face shield?
A face shield is an alternative to face masks which shields the wearer’s face with a curved sheet of plastic. Face shields are usually fitted on a headband which sits around the top of the head.
Face visors or shields are, for the most part, more comfortable, less claustrophobic and easier to clean than their fabric counterparts. And they're reusable.
Are face visors better than masks for Coronavirus?
Every time we speak, we spray thousands of (invisible) aerosol droplets into the air. When someone is infected with Covid-19, each aerosol droplet can contain thousands of viral particles, each with the potential to infect anyone nearby. Although the World Health Organisation doesn't consider Coronavirus to be an airborne disease, many scientists now believe that it is. Thus, we've been wearing face masks to protect ourselves and others.
When it comes to wearing the most common choice of a face mask, there are a few downsides. Not only can they uncomfortable and cause maskne, but if they aren’t applied and taken off with clean hands, you could run the risk of spreading Coronavirus further rather than protecting yourself from it.
This isn't such a risk with a face visor, so if you base it on that evidence alone then yes. They are. Face masks also don't protect the eyes, and face masks don't really discourage the wearer from touching their face.
But upon closer inspection, the evidence is varied.
On the one hand, Eli Perencevich, M.D, a professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in America told Self magazine: “We feel face shields are far more effective [than face masks].” And there is research to back his thinking up. A 2014 study featured in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene showed that when face shields were placed on “breathing” robots, and secondary robots located 18 inches away “coughed out” the flu virus, the shield preventing the robot from inhaling up to 96% of the virus. Further research, where the droplets were varied in size, indicated that face shields can protect you from other people’s germs.
On the other hand, some research considers the fact that face shields have open sides and an open bottom as a reason for reduced effectiveness. One study, carried out by Matthais Echternach, head of phoniatrics and paediatric audiology at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Hospital Munich, and Stefan Kniesburges, a fluid mechanics expert at the University Hospital Erlangen, used choir singers to find out which method reduced aerosol clouds most effectively. With no mask? Professional singers could create an aerosol cloud up to 1.4m in front of them. With a fabric face mask? The virus could still escape, but the amount of aerosol carrying it was greatly reduced. With a face visor? “Nearly all of the aerosols were coming around the side of the face shield and reached nearly the same distances as without wearing anything,” Echternach tells the BBC.
So what's the verdict? Face shields appear to be only totally effective in ideal conditions. That is: if someone is coughing directly onto the plastic surface.
Can face shields protect other people from your germs?
This is where the research gets a little thin. There aren’t any studies which show whether or not face visors can protect other people from the germs you give out. And this is why some scientists might be wary.
If you have Coronavirus, a face shield probably won’t protect those around you from catching it. That said, if everyone wears one, then they'll slow the spread. Your visor protects you, and mine protects me.
But do the current face masks rules include visors and face shields?
In England, there is currently no official government guidance about whether a visor or face shield can be worn as an alternative to a standard face mask. What's the government's definition of a face covering? "Something which safely covers the nose and mouth". They add: "You may also use a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth covering but these must securely fit round the side of the face." So in all honesty, they're probably not included.
In Scotland, things are different. The use of face visors is permitted as an alternative to a fabric face mask, The Scottish government website explains: “you may also use, if you prefer, a face visor but it must cover your nose and mouth completely."
Ideally? In England, you might like to consider wearing a face mask under a face shield for optimum safety.
Who should wear a face shield
Face shields may come in handy if you work in a shop, restaurant or another public-facing job, especially if you wear one alongside a face mask.
What’s more, if you’re at high risk of Coronavirus complications, you might also consider wearing shields and masks at the same time. When robots wore both shields and masks in his aforementioned study, they blocked out 97% of the virus from landing on the masks.
Now we're all clued up, here are the best face shields to shop if you want to stay extra safe and wear one over your mask.
Best flippable face shield
Most comfortable face visor
Best lightweight face shield
Best affordable face shield
Best face shield for style
Best face shield multi-pack
