Cloth masks are largely for show in protecting you from other people. They are still highly effective in preventing your aerosols from getting out into the air.

Cloth masks are largely for show in protecting you from other people. They are still highly effective in preventing your aerosols from getting out into the air. Even though COVID is airborne, it comes out of your mouth and nose in liquid droplets that then dehydrate and become airborne. If they hit a cloth mask on the way out, they'll be trapped.