Does Plexiglass Keep You Safe From Coronavirus? Sales Rise As Businesses

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An employee wearing a protective mask cleans a plexiglass barrier before reopening at a Bloomingdale’s store in New York City on Monday, June 22, 2020.

Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

An employee wearing a protective mask cleans a plexiglass barrier before reopening at a Bloomingdale’s store in New York City on Monday, June 22, 2020.

Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

With coronavirus cases surging in the U.S., many people are concluding they’ll have to learn to live with the virus until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available — and that’s led to a huge increase in orders for plexiglass and other types of clear plastic barriers meant to keep us safe.

“Demand is ridiculously high,” said Jackie Yong, a 17-year employee of J. Freeman, Inc., a plastics distributor and sign supplier in Boston whose products include plexiglass and other plastic sheets. “Everything’s just been flying out the door.”

That’s the story of the plexiglass industry these days: As many businesses struggle to reopen safely during the pandemic, from nail salons to barbershops to restaurants to casinos, they’re installing protective barriers to try to prevent employees and customers from catching the virus.

“People are afraid they’re going to lose their businesses, and so they’re trying to put up as much protection as possible so that when people come, they’ll feel safe,” said J. Freeman, Inc., owner Jacqueline Freeman.

“We’ve had people asking for massive amounts — 400, 500, 600 sheets,” she added. “Before it even hits our building, it’s gone.”

The crush of orders began in March, after the World Health Organization labeled the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and recommended using glass or plastic barriers to reduce exposure to COVID-19.

“Quickly, overnight, demand increased roughly by four times what it was the prior year,” said Craig Saunders, president of the International Association of Plastics Distribution, a trade group. “And this wasn’t a local demand in North America; this was a global demand.”

Starbucks shift supervisor Adan Miranda wears a face mask as he serves a drink to a customer while standing behind a plexiglass shield in a booth outside the store in Sacramento, Calif., May 21, 2020.

Rich Pedroncelli/AP

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