Several Hospitals in Thailand Are Using Tiny Face Shields for Newborns

Moms around the world continue to give birth under unprecedented circumstances. Hospitals, too, continue to try to figure out how to best protect these newborn babies. While many hospitals in the U.S. have modified their visitor policies and put into place other precautions, several hospitals in Thailand are giving newborns tiny face shields to help protect them against COVID-19.

According to a Facebook post by BBC Thai, the shields are worn by newborns as they are transported home from, in this case, the Rama Kao hospital. The goal is to protect against droplets from coughs or sneezes. The hospital clarified in a statement to TIME that one of its new mothers recently explained to her nurses she needed to take a taxi or other public transportation to get home. The nurses, who were concerned for the babies’ health, created the shields to help protect them on their journey home.

The hospital, in the Facebook post, clarifies that the shields were made to help give mothers peace of mind and should only be worn by the newborns when absolutely necessary and for short periods of time. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, face coverings should only be worn by kids aged two and over. On the website, it says face coverings should not be placed on anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious or otherwise unable to remove the masks themselves.

While there have been a very small number of newborns that have tested positive for the virus, many experts still don’t know for certain how the virus affects pregnant women, babies and children.

Looking for more information on how COVID-19 affects pregnant women? Here’s what you need to know, as well as answers to some of these most-frequently-asked questions.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.