>> Surgical masks aren't about protecting the wearer from everyone else, they're about protecting everyone else from the wearer [1]. They may provide the wearer some protection, but that's not really the point.

> I think you're confusing the normal use for these masks with what they are actually capable of doing. Yes, in a surgical setting the masks are worn primarily to protect the patient from the surgeon, but the masks do work both ways. Here's a citation:

I wasn't confused. That's why I said they may provide the wearer some protection. The 3M YouTube video I linked even quantifies this, by measuring and comparing leakage between a surgical mask and an N95 respirator.

But that's not the point. Don't wear a mask to protect yourself, wear a mask to protect others.