This is completely my opinion from my own personal observations. Some people like to people watch. I turned that into 'mask watching' once covid hit and masks were mandatory or recommended. My own personal observations (in my analytical brain) tell me we have a huge problem. I look at every masked face I run across and tally things in my head.
For the general public I have not seen ONE mask worn correctly, nor the proper mask type. Sure, I'm not everywhere in the world, so YMMV. Properly fitted N95 masks with a good seal against your face are the best, yet I'm the only one wearing one. Everyone else I study is either wearing an ill-fitted cloth mask or blue surgical mask with gaps at their cheeks and bridge of the nose (NO gaps! Gaps not good! lol), or in one case, a CROCHETED mask with huge holes (a loose crochet), or "Chin ornaments" as I call them. You know who I'm talking about... those that wear their mask on their chins covering nothing. Yeah, like that's gonna help. Then I watch as masks slide down people's noses as they talk, for them to constantly raise them back up into place. You also shouldn't touch the surface of your mask which they are doing. Think about it... it's the barrier between your mouth and nose and Covid cooties in the air. They get on your mask so no-touchie! JMO!
I've taken a relative to various hospital settings 4 times so now I'm thinking I'll see better protection. I was actually shocked to see that it wasn't much better in hospital settings. I didn't see a single N95 there either which surprised me. They wear the blue surgical masks (2nd best) but I wasn't seeing a lot of well-fitted ones. One nurse had gaps at her cheeks so large I thought "Why bother?". Only because she had to wear it but it for darn sure wasn't doing any good. All patients in the waiting rooms wore gapping 'sliders'. It gives me the willies doing these observations.
So, back to
@Cool Cats "This again!" comment about the article where mask wearing "has little to no difference"... my take is that's because hardly anyone wears (A) the best option for masks (N95s), and (B) they don't do anything to make their masks fit properly! I'll bet if people would wear better and properly fitted masks that that article wouldn't even had been written.
There are various vids for how to seal your cloth masks. And if you do opt to wear a cloth mask... I hope it has a slit and you insert a coffee filter (or two) into the slit. That'll help.
All MOO. Well, except this paste from the CDC site.
From the CDC:
Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection.
Wear a mask with the best fit, protection, and comfort for you.
www.cdc.gov