This doesn’t make sense. Either the masks are effective or they’re not. Why else would health care workers use them? They don’t have special genes that make the masks only work for them. This is ridiculous.
When I get my shipment in I’m wearing them.
My (non-medical) understanding is the masks are recommended for health-care workers because health-care workers are in constant close contact with sick people.
Most people in the general public are not face-to-face with sick people and can keep a healthy distance from others, while health-care workers are literally in a patient's face and other body parts. The masks give them protection. A regular person doesn't need that "in your face" protection and thus the mask doesn't do much for them.
A
sick person needs a mask to prevent spreading germs when they cough, sneeze. The mask protects the people around a sick person.
For regular, healthy people who are not in constant contact with sick people, the masks are not recommended. I've also read that most people "breech" the safety of the masks anyway by touching face and eyes, not handling the mask properly, etc.
This is understanding from what I'm reading: healthy people don't need to wear a mask.
Nobody has to agree with my understanding, but please don't pounce on me if you don't agree.

(And if you do pounce on me, for pete's sake, wash your hands first.)
jmopinion