What Are Sneeze Guards and Do They Actually Work? 

The coronavirus has changed the way we do almost everything in our daily lives. From work to school to grocery shopping and everything in between, we’ve had to rethink everything in order to slow the spread of the virus. One of the many changes you’ve likely noticed are the pieces of thick plastic in front of cash registers at grocery stores and cash stations. Those pieces of plastic are called sneeze guards, but do they actually help slow the spread? 

What Are Sneeze Guards?

A sneezeguard is a large piece of plexiglass or a thick plastic that’s used to create an extra barrier between people. The idea is that the extra layer of protection can catch any droplets that make their way through a mask or offer protection if someone is wearing their mask incorrectly 

Where Can a Sneeze Guard be Used?

Sneezeguards are beneficial in almost any setting you can think of. Some of the most common uses for sneezeguards include:

  • Cash registers – to protect the cashier and the customer
  • Schools – between and around desks to separate students
  • Gyms – between pieces of equipment to limit the spread of bacteria from one machine to another 
  • Doctors offices 
  • Public transportation – sneezeguards can be placed between seats for different patrons and they can be placed around the driver to protect them from exposure to everyone entering or exiting the public transit

Almost any public place you can think of can benefit from the use of sneezeguards. Anywhere where direct contact can occur from one person to another, a sneezeguard can be placed in between them for added protection. 

Do Sneeze Guards Work?

A giant piece of plastic might look silly, but it actually works! Sneezeguards are shown to be effective at catching bacteria and droplets in the air that would otherwise infect the person on the other side of the guard. Masks offer the same type of protection, but sneezeguards in addition to masks significantly lower the risk of transferring bacteria from one person to another. Not everyone is compliant with mask recommendations and some people don’t wear their mask properly, so a sneezeguard offers an extra layer of protection. The sneezeguards should be disinfected regularly and you should avoid touching the guard unless you’re the one cleaning it. After all, the bacteria and droplets just sit on the guard, so who would want to touch that?! 

Purchase Sneeze Guards from My Safe Meeting

Sneezeguards are not required by law in every state, but they are encouraged by the CDC. Reception desks, cashiers, schools, and nearly any area of customer service can benefit from the added layer of protection. Both acrylic and plexiglass make effective sneezeguards. For help purchasing and installing sneezeguards, contact My Safe Meeting today! You can give us a call at 978-267-1080 or fill out a contact form.

Call Now: 781-670-9292!

DESIGN & DÉCOR – PRODUCTION – FLORAL

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