Different spin on the wearing of masks.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

rgG wrote:
Since we know that a basic cloth mask or scarf doesn’t do much to keep you from getting infected, do you think maybe we are being encouraged to wear masks to help keep asymptomatic people from spreading the C19 virus?

That’s exactly right. Specifically, experts have come to believe that the virus may spread through the dispersement of exhaled aerosol particles by asymptomatic infected persons, whereas before it was believed the virus could only spread through droplet particles. Aerosol particles are much smaller than droplet particles and can disperse much farther from the body via sneezing, singing and even speaking normally. Experts now believe wearing a mask blocks may help to block the dispersement of droplet AND aerosol particles.

EDIT: Edited to increase accuracy.