GHS warns against wearing face shield without face mask

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an advisory on the use of face shields as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

According to the Head of Surveillance at GHS, Dr. Asiedu Bekoe, face shields must be used together with a face mask and not as an alternative.

“If you wear the face shield, then it must be on top of a face mask, but it should not be an alternative to the use of the face mask and I want to assure all Ghanaians that it is not for convenience that we are replacing face shields with face masks but it is for the purpose of preventing infections,” he said.

He stressed that face masks were the best way to prevent the spread of the disease.

Dr. Bekoe said in situations where social distancing was almost impossible, face masks were ideal for preventing the virus from entering the body through the nose and mouth.

“For the purpose of addressing the challenge of infection. The first port of call is the face mask… We want to implore all Ghanaians that let’s use the face mask because that is the purest way that you can prevent yourself from getting an infection.’

He, however, gave some exemptions on the use of the face shield.

Dr. Bekoe said face shields could be used when communicating with people who are deaf or those with difficulty in hearing. He said this is because hearing-impaired persons may rely on lipreading to communicate.

Face shields have gained popularity in Ghana in recent times.

The face shield which serves as a personal protective equipment has become a favourite at social gatherings, political events and on television, discussion shows in the country.