Read on Twitter
(1/n) Given recent funding directed to the use of plexiglass barriers for fighting COVID-19, I thought a thread on what experts have said on the topic would be helpful...
(2/n)According to @kprather88 they block big droplets but aerosols float right around them https://twitter.com/kprather88/status/1339362968866177025?s=21
(3/n) @shellymboulder suggests large plexi barriers may not reduce risk https://twitter.com/shellymboulder/status/1310975973853143041?s=21
(4/n) But are effective against spray borne droplets. https://twitter.com/shellymboulder/status/1313851518177538049?s=21
(5/n) @cathnoakes says they protect some but raise risk for other: https://twitter.com/cathnoakes/status/1339365933106819073?s=21
(6/n) @vvuorinenaalto suggests it can create recirculation zones that interfere with air flow https://twitter.com/vvuorinenaalto/status/1313841391999627265?s=21
(7/n) @jljcolorado says that face shields and plexi will not stop the coronavirus https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1320047701686272000?s=21
(8/n) @JimRosenthal4 notes that plexi barriers will always create negative flow behind them that draws particles in. https://twitter.com/jimrosenthal4/status/1313838589294370816?s=21
(9/n) @linseymarr comments that partitions increase risk in some locations and decrease risk in others. https://twitter.com/linseymarr/status/1313574122417459210?s=21
(10/n) And a couple articles... this one asks what plexiglass barriers do to stop Covid: https://qz.com/1913843/will-plexiglass-dividers-protect-the-vp-candidates-from-covid-19/
(11/n) This Princeton study investigates whether plexiglass can assist in reducing COVID-19 risk: https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/12/is-plexiglass-keeping-covid-19-out-new-princeton-study-gives-a-clearer-picture.html
(12/n) ...last, my $.02 (based on our own testing at AirQ): low barriers can increase the time & distance it takes for aerosols to spread (giving ventilation more time to remove them). Well designed barriers may help. Poorly designed, they will interfere with ventilation.
