The compass always covers my new series 8 watch face unless I am using an app.
My new series 8 Apple Watch worked perfectly for one month. Then I woke up one morning with the compass covering the face of the watch. This was two months ago. Geek squad told me this problem would likely resolve when the watch was updated. There have been two updates, and nothing has changed. I am able to use apps and notifications normally, but as soon as those end, the compass appears again on the face of my watch.
Apple Watch Series 8, watchOS 9