One of the mistakes in considering mask usage is falling into an all or nothing trap.
A hypothetical mask that reduces the chance of someone else catching a disease from you by 30% would provide a significant drag on the R0 of the disease, hastening the end of the epidemic.
Also, infection rates of several types of viruses, including flu and enterovirus, dropped significantly in southeast asian countries that moved to universal mask wearing during this pandemic. Since most people weren’t wearing N95 PPE, that implies that even surgical masks are effective at slowing the spread of several types of viruses.
Also, you know, there is a reason why surgeons wear them.
A hypothetical mask that reduces the chance of someone else catching a disease from you by 30% would provide a significant drag on the R0 of the disease, hastening the end of the epidemic.
Also, infection rates of several types of viruses, including flu and enterovirus, dropped significantly in southeast asian countries that moved to universal mask wearing during this pandemic. Since most people weren’t wearing N95 PPE, that implies that even surgical masks are effective at slowing the spread of several types of viruses.
Also, you know, there is a reason why surgeons wear them.