In the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, establishments across the country are searching for safer social distancing options while spiking case numbers complicate the reopening process. States and counties have implemented various policies to safely enforce best practices. Commonly known as a "sneeze guard," acrylic or plexiglass sheeting has been in high demand across the country and even globally.
Sneeze Guard Shortage
As school districts, churches and businesses reopen this fall, these "sneeze guards" have been made readily available to support essential workers. Due to the immediate demand to protect essential workers, establishments attempting to reopen are encountering a shortage of acrylic and plexiglass sheeting. "Quickly, overnight, demand [for sneeze guards] increased roughly by four times what it was the prior year," said Craig Saunders, president of the International Association of Plastics Distribution. As a result, customers are waiting for more than six months for the material to create sneeze guards.
Social Limiting Partitions
CDC's COVID-19 Preventative Guidelines
In China, school children can only remove their masks while eating lunch inside a plastic partition. While sneeze guards are not medical devices, they have PPE qualities and help slow the transmission of COVID-19. The CDC recommends installing physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards to safely limit contact.
Worth the Wait?
With a surge of orders coming from Texas and Arizona, companies offering plastic sheets for sneeze guards are urging businesses to join waiting lists. Some suppliers are seeing 6-month waits in filling orders. Immediate demand for the plastic sheets has led to skyrocketing presales. Ordering ahead allows distributors like Red Slate to source better group prices.
Red Slate has an ongoing distribution relationship and will continue providing the acrylic or plexiglass sheets to school districts, hospitals, and other businesses across the country.
In the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, establishments across the country are searching for safer social distancing options while spiking case numbers complicate the reopening process. States and counties have implemented various policies to safely enforce best practices. Commonly known as a “sneeze guard,” acrylic or plexiglass sheeting has been in high demand across the country and even globally.
Sneeze Guard Shortage
As school districts, churches and businesses reopen this fall, these “sneeze guards” have been made readily available to support essential workers. Due to the immediate demand to protect essential workers, establishments attempting to reopen are encountering a shortage of acrylic and plexiglass sheeting. “Quickly, overnight, demand [for sneeze guards] increased roughly by four times what it was the prior year,” said Craig Saunders, president of the International Association of Plastics Distribution. As a result, customers are waiting for more than six months for the material to create sneeze guards.
Social Limiting Partitions
CDC’s COVID-19 Preventative Guidelines
In China, school children can only remove their masks while eating lunch inside a plastic partition. While sneeze guards are not medical devices, they have PPE qualities and help slow the transmission of COVID-19. The CDC recommends installing physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards to safely limit contact. In everyday environments, the plastic shields serve as a reminder of the mask requirement.
Is it worth the wait?
With a surge of orders coming from Texas and Arizona, companies offering plastic sheets for sneeze guards are urging businesses to join waiting lists. Some suppliers are seeing 6-month waits in filling orders. Immediate demand for the plastic sheets has led to skyrocketing presales. Ordering ahead allows distributors like Red Slate to source better group prices.
Red Slate has an ongoing distribution relationship and will continue providing the acrylic or plexiglass sheets to school districts, hospitals, and other businesses across the country.