Prince Edward has stepped out in a plastic face shield for a visit to Surrey as research emerged suggesting they don’t work in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
The Earl of Wessex, 56, who lives with his wife Sophie, 55, and their children Lady Louise Windsor, 16, and James Viscount Severn, 12, at Bagshot Park, between Windsor and Guildford, visited Yvonne Arnaud Theatre yesterday.
His engagement came as a study warned that plastic face shields allow nearly 100 per cent of tiny airborne droplets released by coronavirus-infected patients to escape through visors.
Dressed in a grey blazer, teamed with cream trousers and a blue shirt, the Queen’s son shielded his face with a plastic guard.
Prince Edward (pictured) has stepped out in a plastic face shield for a visit to Surrey as research emerged suggesting the covering doesn’t work in stopping the spread of COVID-19
Photographs of the royal, who followed social distancing rules during his visit, were shared to the Royal Family’s Twitter account today.
Edward could be seen chatting with actors and staff members at the Guildford theatre before exploring the gardens, which is being used as an outdoor stage.
The images were captioned: ‘The Earl of Wessex yesterday visited the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, where he met with actors and staff to discuss how the arts are coping with Covid-19 restrictions.
‘The theatre is one of the few venues staging indoor performances, with reduced audience numbers. The Earl has long-supported the arts, and is Patron of many organisations that support youth participation in theatre, music and dance.
The Earl of Wessex (seen centre), 56, who lives with his wife Sophie, 55, and their children Lady Louise Windsor, 16, and James Viscount Severn, 12, at Bagshot Park, between Windsor and Guildford, visited Yvonne Arnaud Theatre yesterday
Edward could be seen chatting with actors and staff members (pictured) at the Guildford Theatre before exploring the gardens, which is being used as an outdoor stage
‘His Royal Highness is pictured in the theatre’s garden, where Yvonne Arnaud has also been staging outdoor, socially-distanced performances.’
Yesterday, a study warned that plastic face shields allow nearly 100 per cent of tiny airborne droplets released by coronavirus-infected patients to escape through visors.
The alternative to face masks were touted by industry experts as providing adequate protection from the virus – and the British government has recommended them for hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians and tattooists as a barrier between them and the customer.
But doubt has now been cast on claims they work, after a computer simulation revealed almost 100 per cent of airborne droplets smaller than five micrometres in size — released when talking and breathing — escaped through the visor.
Dressed in a grey blazer, teamed with cream trousers and a blue shirt, the Queen’s son (pictured right) shielded his face with a plastic guard
And half of larger droplets measuring 50 micrometres in size — given off by coughs and sneezes — found their way into the air, posing a risk to others. One micrometre is one millionth of a metre.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says face shields can help prevent the virus, scientifically called SARS-CoV-2.
But the agency says they only work in combination with other safety measures such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing.
Face shields do not completely cover the entirety of the face, leaving room for droplets expelled by the mouth and nose to escape.
Photographs of the royal (pictured speaking with staff), who followed social distancing rules during his visit, were shared to the Royal Family’s Twitter account today
Face visors are also worn by doctors, nurses and other hospital workers on the Covid-19 frontline, but with the addition of a fitted surgical face mask.
Makoto Tsubokura, team leader of the study carried out by the Riken Centre in Japan, cautioned against wearing face visors.
He told The Guardian: ‘Judging from the results of the simulation, unfortunately the effectiveness of face guards in preventing droplets from spreading from an infected person’s mouth is limited compared with masks.’