Acrylic partitions can be found everywhere but it is unclear how much benefit they provide from Maurice Sidney's blog

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, acrylic partitions have become commonplace in offices, grocery stores, and restaurants across the country, according to CNN Business. They were even installed on the stage of the vice presidential debate just a couple of weeks ago.

Considering that they're practically ubiquitous, you might be wondering how effective they actually are.

Businesses and workplaces have identified  as one of the tools they are employing to keep people safe from the spread of the virus, according to reports. However, it is important to note that there is little evidence to support their effectiveness, and even if there were, the barriers have their limitations, according to epidemiologists and aerosol scientists who study the spread of the virus through the air.

As a means of reducing exposure to hazards, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised employers to install physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards, whenever possible. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in turn, has issued similar advice to employers.

This is because, according to epidemiologists, environmental engineers, and aerosol scientists, plexiglass partitions for desks can in theory protect workers from large respiratory droplets that can spread if someone sneezes or coughs next to them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus is thought to spread from person to person primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

However, according to Wafaa El-Sadr, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University, the evidence for these benefits has not been established. She claims that no studies have been conducted to determine how effective acrylic partitions are at preventing large droplets from forming.

Also problematic is the fact that even if they do, this is not the only way in which the coronavirus can be transmitted to others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines last week, stating that the coronavirus can spread through aerosols, which are tiny particles containing the virus that float in the air and can travel more than six feet when people breathe, talk, or sneeze.