what's more effective - visor or mask covering mouth only?

[SockYarn]

I am exempt from wearing a mask. To protect myself from judgey fuckers, I wear a plastic visor instead. I know that they are pretty much pointless from an infection control point of view.

But how much less/more pointless is a visor to wearing a mask just over your mouth, leaving your nose free?

Serious question.

It would depend on how you wear the visor I suppose. I've seen some worn half way up the forehead, which means the plastic bit is only particularly covering the mouth.

If you wore a mask over your mouth and only breathed through your mouth it would probably be safer than a visor as it would at least filter the air you breathed in and out?

I've always thought the most moisture comes out of your mouth so that covering the mouth is probably the most important.

Mouth breath also goes forward towards the person you are looking at/talking to. Nose breath generally heads downwards.

Just my own thought - not scientific at all.

Obviously covering mouth and nose properly is by far the best option.

Visors are not considered safe unless used with a mask. Rushing into a meeting but will share link later.

I understood a visor protects you from other people.
A mask protects other people from you.

On that basis, a half worn mask is probably better at preventing covid spread.
I'd suspect a visor worn properly is better protection against judgy feckers.

Here it is:

There is currently not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of face shields for source control. Therefore, CDC does not currently recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html

Visors are not considered safe unless used with a mask.

Yes I know. But I can't wear a mask, and use a visor rather than nothing. But wearing a mask only covering your mouth, or wearing one so loosely on your face that it's like a spout on a kettle is ineffective too.

Just wondering about the relative unsafe-ness of both.

One main advantage of my hard plastic visor is that it's - well - hard plastic. So I can wash it under the tap with fairy liquid or spray it and wipe. Fabric masks are a lot more manky.

There was an article about exactly this in the papers today:

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/face-shields-ineffective-trapping-aerosols-japanese-supercomputer-coronavirus

"Plastic face shields are almost totally ineffective at trapping respiratory aerosols, according to modelling in Japan, casting doubt on their effectiveness in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

A simulation using Fugaku, the world’s fastest supercomputer, found that almost 100% of airborne droplets of less than 5 micrometres in size escaped through plastic visors"

Sorry to tell you they are both useless, as has been pointed out they've just shown that face visor alone doesn't work. As for a face mask only covering your mouth, don't get me started, it's a massive pet peeve when I see people doing this. It will catch some droplets if you cough but we breathe in and out of our noses, so walking around without it covering your nose does very little. And if you try to breathe in and out through your mouth air will still move through your nose and into the surrounding air.
Appreciate you can't wear the mask covering your nose and I imagine you want to do something to get less hassle from other people, which is fair enough, but neither option will actually protect others or yourself so keep your distance as much as you can.

Visors mostly protect you from someone coughing into your eyes.

I think wearing a visors at least signals to other people that you're making an effort though, whereas a mask pulled down from your nose sends a different message.

I have a ZShield Wrap visor from America, it goes around you neck rather than your forehead. I think its better than a normal visor because your nose/mouth are completely covered

I thought plastic visors were used for surgeons to stop bodily fluids? Totally ineffective for virus control

@Jejazz

Sorry to tell you they are both useless, as has been pointed out they've just shown that face visor alone doesn't work. As for a face mask only covering your mouth, don't get me started, it's a massive pet peeve when I see people doing this. It will catch some droplets if you cough but we breathe in and out of our noses, so walking around without it covering your nose does very little. And if you try to breathe in and out through your mouth air will still move through your nose and into the surrounding air. Appreciate you can't wear the mask covering your nose and I imagine you want to do something to get less hassle from other people, which is fair enough, but neither option will actually protect others or yourself so keep your distance as much as you can.

I so agree. The face shields, with surgical masks gave added protection to NHS and careworkers.

So it's illogical why people think they are fine to use without face masks.

When I see people with a face mask with their nose out, I want to shout at them, "Wear it properly or don't put it on at all" . Don't worry, I don't I just steer clear of them.

So to answer your question OP, both things are just as bad as each other.

There really ought to be a TV campaign on how to, and how not to wear a face covering. Also, fines should be handed out to those not covering their nose as well as their mouth, and major fines should be dished out to supermarkets and shops for letting people without exemptions into their places without a mask on.