The Problem With Perspex: Why Covid Screens Might Not Be Safe Ministers have been told the screens should be scrapped. Here's what the science says.

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Some believe the screens still have a purpose as a control measure for the transmission of Covid, though.

Professor Paul Digard, chair of virology at the University of Edinburgh, says: “Do this simple thought experiment – you’re standing the other side of a counter from someone with Covid and they sneeze without getting a hand up in time. Would you rather there was a perspex screen in between you? It’s the same outcome if all they’re doing is talking, and even if they’re wearing a mask – it’s just that the situation starts with a lower baseline risk of transmission,” he says.

“There are other issues that affect how likely (or not) screens are to reduce virus transmission, but in my view, they are likely to be an effective measure.

“There might be some merit in argument over their blocking airflow and thus leading to higher local virus concentrations in some circumstances, but this would only really apply under conditions of poor ventilation and longer periods of exposure where virus transmission is occurring through aerosols.

“It’s important to remember that we still don’t know for sure what the balance of Covid transmission through aerosols, larger respiratory droplets and surface contamination is; screens will be very effective against the latter two modes, even if less so against aerosols.”