Masks aren't really an individual thing that will keep you safe if only you wear it, but it helps if you look at a population that wears masks vs doesn't wear masks. If masks are worn by a certain percentage of the population, it's been shown to put a halt to influenza pandemics (according to a paper posted late last week). It stops people from touching their mouth, and stops infected people from spreading their germs to others. It's one of the reasons why the coronavirus hasn't taken hold in Hong Kong more than it has.
The reason it's not been recommended in the US is because it's not really part of our culture, and so we don't have a huge supply of them. Medical workers need them the most. But if we did have enough, yes they're definitely recommended.
The reason it's not been recommended in the US is because it's not really part of our culture, and so we don't have a huge supply of them. Medical workers need them the most. But if we did have enough, yes they're definitely recommended.