> Touching one's mask is infinitely better than the alternative of touching one's face That depends entirely on if there is a viral build up on the outside of

> Touching one's mask is infinitely better than the alternative of touching one's face That depends entirely on if there is a viral build up on the outside of the mask. Discouraging people from using N95 masks was specifically to avoid the private hoarding of masks. But discouraging use of other masks (and N95) by the public is because they do not protect you if they are used wrong. When any air passed around a mask, then you are at risk. Using them right requires proper equipment, sizing, testing, etc... And getting people properly fit, etc was not something that was remotely practical for the general public. That's not to mention the materials used... properly protecting masks have to be made of high-quality and consistent fibers. The current recommendations for wearing masks is not to protect the wearer of the mask. It is to protect other people. If you take it as a given that there is widespread asymptomatic cases of the virus, then you don't know if you have it or not. So wearing a mask is to protect other people from you. If you are wearing a mask, any virus that you happen to shed will be trapped as you exhale, or at least not be able to travel very far. Unfortunately, any help that wearing a mask would offer to the wearer is often countered by the false sense of security that they bring. There are many people in masks that think they are protected so they can ignore keeping their distance from others. This is 100% wrong. The best way to avoid germs from other people is to distance yourself from other people.