[UPDATED] Wear face shields to greatly reduce Covid-19 community spread: Noor Hisham

KUALA LUMPUR – The health director-general is now advocating the use of face shields, in addition to his earlier double-mask suggestion.

Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah tweeted that face shields should be used to “significantly reduce Covid-19 transmission in the community setting”.

“We need to adopt the practical application of face shields, which can be quickly and affordably produced and distributed.

“It should be included as part of strategies to safely and significantly reduce transmission in the community setting.”

We need to adopt the practical application of Face shields, which can be quickly and affordably produced and distributed. It should be included as part of strategies to safely and significantly reduce transmission in the community setting. pic.twitter.com/hbA0kphqkw

— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) August 23, 2021

It is understood that his recommendation of wearing face shields should be accompanied with two masks, as shown in a photo he tweeted.

However, several Twitter users replied to his suggestion, saying the combination of all methods could be too costly for some, while others say it might make it too difficult to breathe.

In May, he had said the use of face shields and double face masks is not compulsory, but encouraged in high-risk areas such as hospitals.

He added that the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the wearing of double three-ply masks is more than 90% effective in keeping out viruses.

The health director-general said hospital workers are encouraged to put on N95 masks and face shields, especially those working in Covid-19 wards and intensive care units.

“According to a recent Lancet report, the coronavirus not only spreads via droplets, but is also airborne. That is why face shields are encouraged in high-risk areas.”

Later, he said double-masking or wearing a cloth mask on top of a medical-grade mask helps filter more particles than wearing only a cloth mask.

He shared this information through infographics on his Twitter account of a CDC study, which concluded that double-masking can substantially reduce the wearer’s exposure to Covid-19. – The Vibes, August 23, 2021