Cloth can still provide some protection. A mask made from a cotton blend t-shirt can be ~70% effective at filtering a virus from droplets in the air. (See this study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_t...)

I've made this "single-serving site" to share with friends and family who aren't convinced yet: https://shouldiwearafacemask.com/

Absolutely, I expressed myself poorly, they do provide _some_ protection and if everyone wore them it would be even more effective. But, on the other hand, it would also provide a false sense of safety and being followed by lessening the need for self isolation. But we shouldn't resort to such things, where are the real safety masks? Its hard not to get worried about how so unprepared we are and and in an eventual case of other imminent emergencies and crises we might have even worse outcome. We should think more often about how we impact our environment and how the weather has been changing and affecting everything around us. Stay safe

awesome. I'm sending this to my partner who has been apathetic about this whole thing.

It does provide protection to the wearer, if everyone does it. If all the people around them are wearing them and one of those people is infected, the wearer is less likely to catch it.

Trying to fit it into a altruistic or selfish category is a false dichotomy. The same for obeying stay at home orders. Just because a benefit is indirect (herd immunity benefit of universal vaccination, reducing r0 in a population from behavioral changes) doesn't mean it's not a benefit.

If it helps at all catching the cough and sneeze aerosols then it has to help. A few layers of cotton would probably contain a goodly portion.

I think you meant burqa:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa

My mistke, I actuallty niquab, where only the eyes are visible.