(NaturalHealth365)
One of the popular alternatives to face masks through the COVID-19
pandemic has been plastic face shields. Many people prefer them because
they’re less restrictive, and they also allow the mouth to be seen,
something that’s useful when speaking to individuals who may have
difficulty hearing. But do face shields really keep you safe from the spread of COVID-19?
One shocking new video revealed that a face shield doesn’t keep you protected from the coronavirus. In fact, the research behind the video – published in the Physics of Fluids journal, showed face shields could not protect from the vortex rings that are generated when someone sneezes.
Face shields proven ineffective by researchers
To find out how effective face shields are at protecting wearers from COVID-19, Japanese researchers at Fukuoka University investigated what happens to the airflow around a face shield when someone standing a meter away sneezes. They simulated the situation using a computer-generated model, specifically looking at sneezes because they produce “vortex rings” that are generated when fluids are instantaneously ejected from the mouth and nose.
These vortex rings capture the aerosols in the sneeze, transporting them to the bottom and top edges of face shields where they may enter the area and get into the wearer’s nose. Simply inhale at that moment, and you’ll end up inhaling those aerosols. These results led researchers to conclude that wearing a face shield is not highly effective at preventing coronavirus infection.