Hemsworth nurse shaves his 'beloved' beard to keep carehome residents safe

Kevin Manson, a registered nurse at Springfield Grange Carehome in Hemsworth, got rid of his beloved beard in an attempt to keep residents at the care home safe

Kevin was well known for his eccentric beard, but he had to say goodbye to protect the home from coronavirus.

He said: “I’d read an article which was about face masks not being as effective if you’ve got a beard.

“I wanted to make it safe for everyone so I knew I’d probably have to shave it off at some point.

“I mentioned it to Bev, who’s our resident barber and a couple of hours later I made the sacrifice.

“A lot of people say it’s an improvement and apparently I look a lot younger!”

There is a video of Kevins ‘brave the shave’ on Springfield Grange’s Facebook page to keep people smiling at home.

The Home Manager, Tracey Turner said: “Kevin took the decision to shave to make sure, he was doing everything he could to prevent the spread of the virus.

“We are incredibly proud of Kevin and our team and the work they are doing to keep our residents safe!”

Kevin’s beard has been a key part of his image but he says he’s glad to be keeping everyone safe and smiling.

Lizzie Dodd, regional manager at Horizon Care said: “It’s been amazing for the team, Kevin’s efforts have really boosted staff morale.

“Between a lot of the staff and residents, Kevin’s beard is a massive talking point.

“His attitude to work and his personal life is amazing and we’d be lost without him, he puts a smile on everyone’s face and he makes me proud to be part of the same profession.”

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