Here is my experience - I am older, asthmatic & have bronchiectasis, so am considered high risk. I have been in and out of doctor, surgery & therapy offices since about 2 dozen times since June. High touch surfaces, including pens & clipboards/tablets for paperwork, are diligently disinfected between patients EVERYWHERE I have been. Temperatures are taken & patients quizzed about health and exposure before being seen, companions generally not allowed, and seats set far apart. Hand sanitizer is everywhere, and staff and patients all seem to be using it often. Remember staff is serious about preventing infection for their own health, and for the ability to stay open and working. Also remember that the likelihood of infection is a combination of factors - the length of exposure and the quantity of live virus that makes it into your eyes and nose, where it is able to take hold. It does not infect through your skin.

If you cannot wear the N95 or KN95 mask, the cloth mask plus shield sounds like a good solution. I wear either a 3-layer cloth mask or N95 mask without valve, depending on whether I will be in close contact/there for some time, or shorter & less direct contact. I have not felt the need to wear a face shield.

"The jury is out" on the necessity for gloves - as time goes on, evidence of transmission by touching surfaces has not been strong. The reports that virus particles are found on surfaces is not definitive - there is no peer-reviewed study showing these are viable & able to infect you. If your face & eyes are covered so you cannot touch them with contaminated fingers, your risk would be negligible. Diligent hand cleaning is better, because it avoids inadvertently transferring contaminants from one surface to another as gloves can do.

(Note: This may not apply to other places like grocery stores and other high-traffic, high-touch places if you are at very high risk. Those places would be better avoided altogether.)

I hope this helps ease your mind.
Sue

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