Article - Facing Facts with Face Shields
25 Oct 2020
First and foremost, in South Africa and in all probability, throughout the rest of the world too, any mention of personal protective equipment – PPE – immediately brings to mind those items that shield and protect the face, particularly the nose and mouth and the facial areas that surround these features.
Lowest Lockdown Level
In South Africa, we’re still far from seeing the cessation of PPE use. Despite the fact that this country’s authorities have announced that the South African Covid-19 lockdown level is to be relaxed and downgraded from Level 2 to Level 1 as from midnight on 20 September 2020, the legislation stipulating the use of face masks and/or face shields continues to remain in force.
Safe Rather Than Sorry
One must face facts. Prevention is always better than cure, (and there is, as yet, no cure for Covid-19), taking a cautious approach by continuing to shield one’s face in public, for at least the duration of the lowest lockdown, level is wise. It’s also better to be sure than sorry.
Minimally Inconvenient
Actually, one suspects that many people may continue to shield their faces for quite some time after this practice is no longer deemed essential. Moreover, people have become accustomed to wearing a mask or face shield during the extended lockdown period, now almost six months long, so it’ll be minimally inconvenient.
Life-Saving and Effective
While no one will ever know precisely how many lives have thus far been saved by South Africans’ compliance with this and other parts of the anti-coronavirus measures, there is no doubt that wearing masks when out in public, has indeed been highly effective and successful in keeping infection rates down. Of course, other basic preventative and protective measures have also played an invaluable role in curtailing and containing the spread of a dreaded disease.
Beneficial Coronavirus-Related Consequence
Every year, the so-called annual flu season in South Africa occurs during the winter months, when people spend more time in close, enclosed proximity to one another, indoors. Windows and doors are closed to prevent the ingress of cold air and draughts; natural ventilation is reduced.
When and where there’s less fresh, clean air entering from outside, people inhale and exhale the same available supply of air that may eventually become somewhat stale, but is nevertheless shared.
Principally, cold and flu are spread via airborne or spayed droplets, which are expelled when people sneeze and cough. Touching contaminated surfaces also spreads these two commonplace ailments, particularly if they touch their faces, something that people frequently do, usually quite unconsciously.
This year, 2020, South Africans – en masse – have been spared the sniffles, fevers, aches, pains, general malaise, and potential complications associated with winter flu, which is said to prove fatal to some 12 000
Unintended Side-Effect
However, social distancing, frequent handwashing and sanitising, staying home, and wearing masks have undoubtedly contributed to the fact that this country has virtually skipped outbreaks of seasonal flu – an unintended, but very beneficial side-effect of coronavirus protective measures and the use of PPE.
We South Africans are indeed fortunate; the majority of the populace remains virus-free, well and healthy – and also masked, shielded, alert and careful, as we adapt, adopt and settle into our “new, (more) normal” lifestyles.
Wholesale PPE Supplier
Our concern, XCO Group, has included face shields and masks in our protective work- and corporate wear ranges during much of our existence, which dates back to 1987, when we began trading as a sportswear retailer in the Jacaranda City, Pretoria. Since those early days, we’ve grown enormously, but gradually and wisely. Recently, we’ve also increased our mask and shield range, because the demand remains and in this regard, our goal is fixed on offering effective protective measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
With our creative branding options, you face mask can become an attractive fashion accessory – with a much higher purpose. The range of kits, sets and shields has grown too. We now offer a variety of children’s options, some of which include fun features, which help parents to overcome any resistance a youngster may have to wearing a foreign object that covers eyes, nose and mouth.
Needless to say, we’ve remained operational at XCO, albeit working remotely, throughout the lockdown, because the use of our PPE, particularly focussed on the “personal protection” characteristic, has extended beyond medical professions to include the public, as essential products. Face shields and masks are key components of your and XCO’s PPE.