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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Your DIY face shields can protect you even more from the coronavirus

Your DIY face shields can protect you even more from the coronavirus

Published Aug 15, 2020 10:13 am

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the mandatory use of face shields for commuters to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus. And most local government units have required their constituents to wear face shields whenever they’re outside. 

Non-medical grade face shields have sprouted like mushrooms all over the metro. You can even buy it from fruit and vegetable vendors, stalls in public markets, not to mention tailoring shops.

But since it’s a little bit pricey for some Filipinos who are struggling with their daily income, many have resorted to using recycled water containers to improvise protection. Although not a novel idea since many have already done this before, an improvised full head face shield has gotten the attention of netizens when 55-year-old tricycle driver Jose Magnabe‘s photo went viral.

Tricycle driver Jose Magnabe wears face shield made of water container. Photo courtesy of N Jay Morales

It may not be stylish, but scientists will say that his DIY face shield can protect you more than the fashionable P50 to P65 eyeglass-style face shields. 

Here’s why: Even if the World Health Organization has not issued any statement on Covid-19 being airborne, 239 scientists have signed an open letter stating that the virus may be spread by airborne transmission. The lead author of the letter, Lidia Morawska of Queensland University of technology in Australia, together with other signatories, believe that the “super spreading” incident that happened at a choir in Washington in March is an evidence of airborne transmission.

The eyes are also an entry point of the virus—that’s why if your face shield has an opening over your forehead, just like the eyeglass-style face shield, you’re still prone to catching SARS-CoV-2. 

Makeshift face shields are also easy to do—you can just cut a hole through which your head can fit and voila!, you have instant protection.

Anabelle Talita-Valdehuesa, a frontliner from Butuan Medical City, also went viral in March for wearing custommade face cover from a water bottle. Her face shield looked even better than Mang Jose’s.

Frontliner Anabelle Talita-Valdehuesa protects herself with DIY face shield. Photo courtesy of Facebook/Anabelle Valdehuesa

If wearing water containers makes you uncomfortable, just settle for those face shields that fully cover your face.

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