The respiratory nature of COVID-19, which spreads through coughing and sneezing, makes airborne droplet protection critical in preventing infection. Face shields offer a layer of protection, reducing the risk of viral transmission for anyone who might be exposed.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages pose a tremendous challenge for the medical community. Healthcare facilities are having difficulty accessing needed PPE, from N95 respirators to protective goggles, gloves, and gowns. Many of these items cannot be used more than once, and are often disposed of after a single treatment. Face shields are reusable and offer many of the same protective benefits as cloth and fabric counterparts.
The need for protection extends outside the medical community as well. Anyone coming into contact with the general population runs the risk of infection, and face shields can provide an extra layer of defense for dentists, security professionals, postal workers, correctional officers, retail and food service workers, home healthcare aides, and other essential workers.