New research shows that face shields didn’t give high levels of protection against COVID. They were a popular choice of PPE during the pandemic, but until now there hasn’t been a great deal of evidence about how protective they really are. Researchers tested 13 styles of face shield in controlled laboratory settings using a ‘coughing machine’ that ejected fluorescent drops onto manikin heads. They also surveyed more than 600 people, including health care staff, to learn more about how face shields are used in a real world setting.