Visors instead of masks

[SistemaAddict]

I went in a shop yesterday and all the staff were wearing visors only. Is this acceptable now? No hand sanitiser for me to use on the way in an out unlike any other shop I've been in and the staff member came right up to me. No screen at the till. I've not been in many shops at all-6 since March-but all had screens, sanitiser, masks and I felt fairly reassured as I'm extremely clinically vulnerable. This one shop yesterday was so different but I'm not sure of the regulations for shops. It's a local independent shop and a fantastic place but I won't be going back now as I didn't feel safe. Surely they should have been wearing masks or have I misunderstood?

I work in a bank and we have just been advised we can only use visors behind a screen. Any area without screens it has to be at least a mask. I don’t think anywhere is legally obliged to offer hand sanitiser though.

As far as I am aware a visor is useless unless there is also a mask. But I'm not in the UK. All our shop assistants in busy shops have both.

I work in a retail setting and we have been told if we wear our visors we must also wear a mask.
We must also wear masks behind the protective screens as we can't social distance from each other.
I'm very surprised they had no hand gel I thought that was part of the 'rules' of being open

Visors on their own are completely useless - the majority of droplets that spread transmission will not be stopped.

I would write to the management and let them know that regrettably you will not be shopping there again, and that you really like their shop and wish you could but cannot go in again due to their totally inadequate Covid-19 setup. Maybe they can make enough money from people who don't care about minimising the spread of the pandemic, or maybe that demographic is too small to keep their business afloat, only time will tell.

As far as I am aware a visor is useless unless there is also a mask. But I'm not in the UK.
Even in the UK, we have been told visors by themselves are useless and that is why the rules were changed so that hairdressers have to wear a mask under a visor rather than just a visor.

@Itsabeautifuldayheyhey I didn't realise that- our local hairdressers are just in visors and I've stopped my son going for that reason. They may have medical exemptions but I'd like to chat to them about it. Can you point me in the right direction or link to guidance please?

Here’s the rules for close contact services (Including hairdressing. It says mask AND visor are mandatory.

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-contact-services

The way I understand it, the guidelines say to wear a face covering, not a face mask...so I assume a face shield or visor or scarf or anything else would be allowed!

Yes as above, medic here and have read the original evidence. The big gap at the bottom of the visor renders them useless without a mask. The droplets in the breath just go out, hit the visor and are pushed both up and down therefore into the room. The visor is a piece of medical kit for protecting the eyes against splashes of bodily fluids, we would never use them in place of a mask. Please do let the business know, they may not be aware and it’s in everyone’s best interests.

@Seventytwoseventythree

Yes as above, medic here and have read the original evidence. The big gap at the bottom of the visor renders them useless without a mask. The droplets in the breath just go out, hit the visor and are pushed both up and down therefore into the room. The visor is a piece of medical kit for protecting the eyes against splashes of bodily fluids, we would never use them in place of a mask. Please do let the business know, they may not be aware and it’s in everyone’s best interests.

^as above. A visor isn’t a face covering, it’s eye protection.

@Meredusoleil

The way I understand it, the guidelines say to wear a face covering, not a face mask...so I assume a face shield or visor or scarf or anything else would be allowed!

From the Gov.uk website.

It is mandatory in law for people providing a close contact service to wear a clear visor/goggles and Type II Face Mask.

Both are required by law.

A visit probably offers as much protection as a bit of home-made fabric that, especially when that bit of tat is hanging off one ear, tucked under a chin, etc.

As for hand sanitizer, take your own. Why on earth should shops be expected to provide it for customers?

Visor, not visit. Sodding autocorrect.

Thank you for all the replies. One of our local hairdressers is only wearing a face shield too. It's a salon that mainly caters to elderly ladies and we are in Greater Manchester with high rates of the virus so you'd think they'd want to protect their vulnerable customers.who enforces these things though?

I don't think that shops should be expected to provide hand gel and I do have my own but every other shop has provided it and asked that customers use it on entering so it seemed odd that this shop didn't.

I wasn't referring to hair dressers but shops in general.

I tend to use my own hand gel as I know the alcohol content is high. Also, I don't want to end up bunched up around the hand sanitiser area with somebody over my shoulder.

Interesting thread. We went to a Cote restaurant last Wednesday and I was shocked that all the staff were only wearing visors. It did not feel safe at all and I was shocked that it was allowed. I certainly won’t be returning any time soon.

Yeh I agree you just vote with your feet and don't go again and/or write to them.

Staff in Burrito were wearing clear plastic mouth shields that looped over their ears. I’ve never seen these kind of masks before and I can’t fathom how they’re of any use bearing in mind they’re preparing food. Totally strange.

You should definitely report a shop who is not complying with mandatory measures to the police.
A hairdresser doing someone's hair without
wearing a mandatory mask is putting many people at risk. I would report them.

It became mandatory from 14th August for hairdressers, barbers etc to wear a type 2 mask as well as a visor (now updated to a mask plus a visor or goggles). There is no excuse for not doing so, 7 weeks later.

I have experienced a beautician a podiatrist and a massage therapist all wearing either mask no visor or visor and no mask. They dont seem to care where I live. Which is why I have cut down any appointments.