My niece is a teacher in NH. (See I do know good people, not just politicians.) She was given a face shield to wear and asked me. “Hey Phillip, sorry to bother you. I go back to brick and mortar school this year. I have cloth face masks for all of us. They are supplying us with face shields. Should I wear the mask under it? Do I need to clean it between sessions of students? Do I use a new one every day? I wanted to get your advice before I actually do this.”
I thought my readers would be interested in my reply.
Definitely do wear a mask with a face shield. A face shield’s primary purpose is to keep someone’s cough, spit or sneeze out of your eyes. It will also keep that stuff off your mask. It may help you keep from touching the front of your mask. Remember however, the main reason you wear a mask is to protect others. While a shield will keep the fluids (listed above) of yours off them it will do little to keep the plume of your breath contained.
I have a face shield at work. I only wear it when I’m examining patients which requires me to get very close to them. I also wear an N95 covered by a surgical mask. The surgical mask is to protect others, the N95 protects me. I also wear safety goggles with reading lenses.
Why both goggles and a face shield? It’s because when I take the face shield off I still have eye protection. I only wear the face shield during the exam. When I’m across the room getting a history or discussing the case, no face shield. For some perspective, I’m the only one who wears goggles and a face shield. Some wear head coverings, I don’t.
I insist, as does my hospital, all patients wear masks. If they are wearing a mask with an exhalation valve, I insist they wear a surgical mask over it. Wearing a mask with an exhalation value is like wearing a face shield with out a mask. It offers little protection to others.
If I were in an environment, such as teaching small children, were I might unexpectedly be face to face with a child or with people not wearing masks, I’d wear the shield more often.
I use the same face shield every day. I clean it with a standard disinfectant towel every day. The hospital recommends cleaning the inside and then the outside.
Hope this helps