They aren't the same thing as medical masks. I'm well aware of that. But if people start making their own or get them from providers that aren't supplying medic

They aren't the same thing as medical masks. I'm well aware of that. But if people start making their own or get them from providers that aren't supplying medical needs anyway, it could very well reduce spread without taking masks from medical providers. Why is Japan an outlier? One thing they do differently from most of the rest of the world is wear masks. Not perfectly but certainly more than in the US. And many Japanese are making their own now as they can't find professionally made ones either. Yes it's a desparate measure but this is becoming more serious by the day. I did have the opportunity to ask a Japanese person his opinion on why the rate of increase is lower than in the US. One reason he gave is wearing masks. Another one is the practice of taking shoes off when entering one's home (you bring in fewer pathogens that way). He did preface his answer with the statement that he is not a medical professional and that he was stating that it was his opinion only. But maybe something to consider. Editing to see that the question I answered might suggest that I was saying those types of cotton masks are medical grade. I didn't mean to suggest that and agree that it's not responsible for someone to use a medical grade mask now without a medical need. My apologies for any misunderstanding I created.