Recent research suggests that the clear plastic barriers intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 may actually be doing more harm than good. As the Delta variant continues to spread and schools and businesses consider reopening, many organizations are implementing these dividers in hopes of providing safety. However, scientists studying airflow and ventilation have found that these barriers can disrupt normal air circulation, potentially leading to increased virus transmission.
According to findings reported by The New York Times, these barriers often don’t provide the protection many believe they do and may even create a false sense of security. In some cases, they can redirect airborne germs to other individuals nearby. For example, while a barrier may shield a clerk at a checkout counter, it can also concentrate respiratory particles in the air, creating so-called “dead zones” where the risk of infection increases.
Linsey Marr, a professor at Virginia Tech and an expert on viral transmission, explains that in spaces without barriers, respiratory droplets can disperse and be replaced by fresh air approximately every 15 to 30 minutes. However, the introduction of plastic barriers alters this airflow, trapping aerosols and increasing their concentration in the room. This is particularly concerning in settings like classrooms where multiple barriers can significantly impede ventilation.
Research from Johns Hopkins University highlights that in classrooms, using desk screens was associated with a higher risk of coronavirus infection. Similarly, studies in Georgia indicated that barriers had minimal impact on virus spread compared to improvements in ventilation and the use of masks. Alarmingly, a 2014 study even suggested that cubicle dividers may have facilitated disease transmission during a tuberculosis outbreak.
A British study further illustrated the issue by modeling the movement of aerosol particles in environments with barriers. While larger droplets from a cough may be blocked, smaller particles from normal speech can easily flow around barriers, leaving both customers and staff at risk of inhaling contaminated air.
As organizations update their safety measures, it remains to be seen how they will incorporate this critical information.
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Summary:
Research indicates that plastic barriers, designed to limit COVID-19 transmission, may actually hinder proper airflow and increase virus concentration in the air. Studies suggest that these barriers can create false security, leading to higher infection risks in various settings. Experts urge reevaluation of these measures in light of new findings.
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