It infuriates me when I see commercials peddling opportunistic products while spewing completely inaccurate information. I just saw one for a shield which lifts up and covers the face from below. The commercial showed happy people and students going about their business, going to school, shopping, talking, without a mask but wearing a plastic shield covering part of their face. It was comical how low the shield fell and how clearly, it would not provide much protection.
The problem with these kinds of commercials is that people are gullible and that, as with anything in life, people like to hear good news about their bad habits or information supporting what they WANT to believe. This commercial basically fools people into thinking that a shield is an adequate substitute for a mask.
It’s NOT!
THIS DOES NOT WORK!
Sure it will stop a snot rocket from spraying out onto other people or sneeze or cough droplets from someone directly hitting your face, but make no mistake that PLENTY of particles are making their way around the plastic, and are inhaled into your nose, mouth and lungs.
The numbers are on the rise again. Not only in the US but all over the world. Many European countries have re-instituted lockdown measures to try to stem the tide as the cold/flu season progresses. After this school semester, as students return home for the holidays and all these crazy rallies with no apparent concern for themselves or others around them, we will certainly see significantly greater numbers of people getting sick and dying in the coming weeks and months.
Shields are fine, but only in addition to a mask, as well as distancing and hand washing.
Stay safe and be well.
AC