zlacker

> Masks are for keeping your own particles from spreading far AND for lowering the probability of virions found in the environment from entering your respiratory system.

Both of you may be correct. I think the person you responded to may not have been precise in their framing.

I suspect that you had N95 masks in mind when you wrote masks, which doesn’t negate the point of the person you responded to, if they had surgical masks in mind when they wrote masks. Surgical masks are far more common than N95 masks since they are cheaper and do not provide protection against viral particles for the wearer.

>>sah2ed+(OP)
Surgical masks do provide some level of protection against virus droplets and aerosol for the wearer they just are not as effective as N95. Even a teacloth or a scarf wrapped around your face will provide some level of protection to the wearer from virus particles entering their mucus membranes.