The COVID-19 pandemic presents monumental challenges. A newly emerged virus to which the world’s population has no immunity, coupled with the speedy movement of people across the globe, has set the stage for an outbreak of proportions not seen within the final century.
For infection with this virus to occur, it must come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. This happens when droplets produced by an infected individual (via speaking, coughing or sneezing), land on the face of one other person. These infectious droplets can travel as much as 6 ft, which is the reason to promote social distancing. Touching a surface that is contaminated with infectious droplets after which touching one’s own eyes, nostril or mouth, is one other way for an infection to occur. Therefore, the important thing to avoiding infection is to have these areas of the face covered.
In hospitals, face masks and goggles are typically used to forestall publicity to infectious droplets. Nonetheless, face masks shortages are occurring because of interruptions in the supply chain, which is deeply rooted in China and disrupted by the pandemic. Some health care workers have been pressured to resort to scarves and bandannas in a final-ditch try and protect themselves while providing care. Even when plentiful, face masks should not with out problems. Once they develop into wet from the humidity in exhaled air, they lose effectiveness. In addition, some individuals contact their face more typically to adjust the masks, which increases the risk of an infection if the fingers are contaminated.
Cloth masks, although higher than nothing, have been shown to be less protective than medical-grade face masks.
We consider that face shields provide a greater solution. There are various types, however all use clear plastic materials connected to a headpiece to cover the eyes, nostril and mouth, thereby preventing infectious droplets from contacting these areas the place the virus can enter the body. They cover more of the face than masks and forestall the wearer from touching their face. Importantly, face shields are durable, can be cleaned after use, reused repeatedly, and for many people are more comfortable than face masks. Because these shields are reusable and are diversified throughout the supply chains of a number of industries, the current supply is less restricted than for face masks. They will even be made at house with gadgets from office supply and craft stores.
Every health care worker needs a face shield for protection at work. While face masks are nonetheless needed in some situations, implementation of face shields will greatly reduce the need for face masks and extend the restricted nationwide supply of masks. Engineers have produced designs for face shields which might be within the public domain, and fabrication at scale is relatively simple. To ensure that each health care worker has a face shield, production might want to ramp as much as meet the demand through present producers and recruitment of additional factories. Because the design is simple, large rapid production wouldn’t be difficult.
Once the health care workpressure is equipped, distribution to the general public should begin, with a goal to provide a face shield to each person in the country. It should be worn anytime an individual leaves their dwelling, while in any public place, and even at work. Although shelter-at-home approaches are needed to “bend the curve” of this pandemic, the ensuing societal disruption limits the time that political leaders are willing to sustain such measures. Once every individual is shielded, nonetheless, reducing restrictions on movement would carry less risk. Universal shielding might reduce reliance on social distancing since infectious droplets can not reach the face of prone individuals. Handwashing, nonetheless, would remain essential to maintain folks from infecting themselves with virus found on the palms after touching contaminated surfaces.