Is it true that masks only work to prevent germs/diseases from exiting one’s mouth/nose and not from entering one’s mouth/nose? If so, why?
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There are very many different types of masks and any of them can be fitted wrong or used wrong. So this does not apply to all masks. Most masks that is used by the general public to prevent the spread of disease is not effective filters against airborne pathogens. When the wearer breathe inn or out most of the air will pass unfiltered around the mask or between the fibers of the mask. But coronavirus is not an airborne pathogen, however it spreads through dropplets. These dropplets can be small enough to float in the air but still behaves very differently from airborne viruses. And while a mask may allow air to flow unfiltered through it most masks trap and collect a lot of dropplets and moisture. But this is mostly the air you breathe out. If there is viruses in small dropplets floating in the air from others it can easily find its way under the mask and infect you either way.
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