And mask wearing has been researched and scientifically proven and medically proven to help reduce the spread of covid-19.
That's actually a lie and i know this is a net forum and thats how much its worth but in this case its a little different.
I am a SME and consulting Engineer with one of my specialties is filtration ( every type known to exist) and applications as well as formerly a both a program developer and instructor for the USACMLS ( live Agent training thru the original COBRA facility in Anniston) and have tested both Civilian and military PPE against various WMD agents right after 911 during activation. Mine isn't a "lay" opinion.
For this, they "play with" ISO testing wording on filtration characteristics to "selectively mislead" on these 'scientific tests"
The short answer is that given both the sub micron size of a given virus and the media. The warp and weft sizing of the mask ( be it woven or non woven) is not layered enough to decouple the breathing velocity of the air exhaled against the mass and velocity of the virus.
Also, without a 100% face seal- it wouldn't matter.
Then when compromised by moisture, said filter goes to almost zero filtration because the media fibers become micro saturated.
This is just a thread post but if you wish, i can literally take you to school down to the sub atomic level on this subject in any area you wish and put the facts out there.
This is why even military grade masks (M-17, M-40, M-25 and the M-50 series) with their advanced charcoal filtration capability have only the most limited (and temporary due too moisture tracing) effectiveness against bio agents. ( thats why in real labs they use over pressure systems)
These 95 masks protect against DUST and nothing more.
If you can smell the "odor" through one- it cannot effectively filter any biological agent.
The stories on these "masks' are pure fiction.