interesting -- and is that the case for our Maronite Catholic and Orthodox brethren as well?
No ... the Maronites use the paten.
The Maronites have adopted the contemporary Latin practice, and the Orthodox do the same as Byzantine Catholics.
Remember that in Eastern usage, communion of the faithful is in both species.
In Orthodox usage a red cloth held by two altar servers is held below the chin of the communicant and the space between the chalice and the communicant lest any particle of Christ’s Body or drop of His Precious Blood fall from the spoon (called in Greek “lavis”, which actually means “tongs”, rather than “spoon” in reference to the Book of Isaiah, quoted in the liturgy following the communions, “lo, this has touched your lip and has taken away your iniquity”).