Is wearing a visor as good as wearing a mask?

[ssd]

I noticed at the weekend retail staff were mainly wearing visors rather than masks. One told me a visor is better to wear for 8 hours rather than a mask.

BUT is a visor as good as a mask?

Are the staff putting themselves at risk just wearing visors?

No, a visor is not as good as a mask. They do help with short contacts with people and direct spitting, sneezing, coughing but after a while, the air flows around the mask so will carry disease to/ from anyone in near proximity.

From what I've read, it's meant to be quite good as an addition to a mask, stopping any big blobs of saliva coming in (nice!), but not very useful by themselves if you're in a closed environment with the virus swirling about, as it can get behind them easily.

Air flows around masks, too. Air flows most places.

Visors failed in Switzerland but masks were protective.

In a shop, where customers are in masks, I suppose it should be okay.

I've also read research which said they were slightly helpful when worn with masks. They're not a stand-alone.

In my workplace (highstreet pharmacy) we have been told that we must wear face masks; a visor alone is not acceptable. Not a problem, as we all have been wearing masks for months anyway.

I work in a food store and switched to a visor. I wear glasses and have tried everything (soap on lenses, nose wire on mask etc) but my glasses still fog up after continued use. I wear a mask when shopping but at work the visor is the only workable option. But as masks are mandatory for shoppers I do feel safer.

I wondered this with hairdressers as I’ve driven past a fair few who are just wearing visors and in v close contact with people. I’m not sure if that makes it more unsafe on the hairdresser or the client

Just been to the hairdresser she wore a visor only and said I didn’t need to wear a mask.
Not sure if this was right!
Took temperatures on way in and hand gelled..

I don't think a visor is enough for a hairdresser, they stand behind you all the time and any air they breathe out will just go all over you surely?

A visor isn’t as good as a mask, Those working in high risk situations wear a mask and a visor as back up.

At the hairdresser I wore a mask and the hairdresser a visor only as per government recommendation. Doctors have said that visors on their own are not safe. The visor stopped quite high up and he was close.

Typical half arsed crap from the government.

It would stop me going back to the hairdresser to be honest, though I did give that as feedback when they asked. That they should also be wearing masks.

I went to Toni and Guy last week. Overall their procedures are quite good, but the lady cutting my hair wore her visor pushed up...
I asked her was it bothering her, she said no she didn’t mind it. That in general she tells her clients they don’t have to wear a mask if they don’t want because she is protected wearing the mask.... pushed off her face....

Personally I think visors are only effective if worn with a mask. In particular masks should be worn at hairdressers. You sit down and they stand over you, you’re not protected the cause they are breathing on top of you.

I wish you could get visors with an attached scarf to reduce air flow. The scarf could be a bit like a snood made of a loose fabric so it moves with your head and there are no gaps between the fabric and your neck.

I think it would be more comfortable than a mask but better protection than a visor alone.

Visors reduce the risk of droplets from a person coughing/breathing going directly into the eyes of the person wearing the visor. So in clinical settings, they provide the wearer with protection which the mask doesn’t.

In shops/hairdressers, with no mask? Chocolate teapot territory. I’m not rushing back to the hairdresser anyway, but definitely won’t be going unless they are wearing a mask.

@parietal

I wish you could get visors with an attached scarf to reduce air flow. The scarf could be a bit like a snood made of a loose fabric so it moves with your head and there are no gaps between the fabric and your neck.

I think it would be more comfortable than a mask but better protection than a visor alone.

That’s a really good idea..... someone somewhere might make it for you.

Do visors protect against Covid? No
Do masks protect against Covid? No

HTH

I don't think visors on their own are as good as masks. But I think that for anyone that finds a mask difficult/is medically exempt from a mask because of breathing issues they are better than nothing. I wouldn't be happy with a hairdresser using a visor only given how close they get to you though.

Do visors protect against Covid? No
Do masks protect against Covid? No

But both together protect more than a visor on its own.

Also, they do protect against Covid, just not 100%.

@parietal

I need something like that. Sounds like a good idea for people that really struggle in masks for long periods of time.

parietal i have bought a zsheild wrap and replacement visors from america, shipping is extortionate but its the only thing I can wear. I'm exempt from wearing a face mask but bought a visor because surely it's better than nothing for a 20-30 min food shop? Anyway the zshield wrap hangs round your neck so the visor starts from your neck an opens up at your forehead rather than the other way round. I think it's way better than those visors worn around your head because your breath doesn't escape from the bottom.

zshields.zverse.com/collections/available-products/products/zshield-wrap?variant=34054951960635

Are we allowed to wear visors rather than masks in shops? Masks make me faint :(

For my job I wear a visor and a mask. There visor is to protect the eyes and any spray and the mask to hopefully stop the rest of it. This is all for about 6 hours a day.