Qatar Airways to make passengers wear face shields and masks: Experts' opinion

As mask rules have caused some controversy on airlines in recent months, Qatar Airways is taking an even stronger stance by requiring economy passengers and cabin crew to wear both face masks and face shields on board. The airline says it will provide passengers with a complimentary kit of disposable protective gear that includes a shield, surgical mask, gloves and hand sanitiser gel. Anyone refusing to wear a face shield during the boarding process will not be allowed to travel on the flight, the company said. The requirement does not apply to passengers in first- or business-class cabins, who will be "asked to wear their face shield and mask onboard at their own discretion, as they enjoy more space and privacy". Face shields are a physical barrier that can provide travellers an extra layer of protection, according to Nahid Bhadelia, the medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at the Boston University School of Medicine. "I'm glad to see that a lot of airlines have mandated the use of masks, and the use of face shields is even better," Bhadelia said. While the mask is helpful in protecting others from the respiratory droplets you may be spreading, Bhadelia says it doesn't protect you from droplets coming your way.<br/>