Dr. Deborah Birx — White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator — is now recommending face shields in addition to mask-wearing as the coronavirus outbreak
On Thursday morning, Birx appeared on “Fox & Friends” where she stressed the importance of incorporating more measures to block droplets that could lead to contamination as she noted multiple ways the virus can spread.
When asked about face shields, Birx offered a detailed explanation of how both can be incorporated as protective barriers.
“The mask protects others, to block those droplets and block that contamination that happens when you speak or sing or talk, or even breathe,” Birx said.
She went on to discuss the benefits of face shields and how they can help to decrease the spread of virus droplets.
Birx said, “The thing about the face shields — we think that could protect the individuals and that it would decrease the ability for them to touch their eyes and spread the virus as well as those droplets coming towards them. So there are two different technologies for two different reasons.”
See Birx’s remarks below:
Birx’s remarks come one day after Dr. Anthony Fauci — Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — also offered a similar suggestion. On Wednesday, Fauci recommended the use of “goggles or an eye shield” to decrease droplet contamination.
“If you have goggles or an eye shield, you should use it,” Fauci said. “It’s not universally recommended, but if you really want to be complete, you should probably use it if you can.”
Fauci also explained why mucosal surfaces near the eyes, nose, and mouth are known “entry points” for coronavirus infections.
“You have mucosal in the nose, mucosal in the mouth, but you also have mucosal in the eye,” Fauci said. “Theoretically, you should protect all the mucosal surfaces.”
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), masks are the only face coverings recommended. However, guidelines also note that “some people may choose to use a face shield when sustained close contact with other people is expected.”
