Frankly, the mask thing is up in the air. There are numerous countries that do not do it and which aren't experiencing any major breakout. While obviously N95 masks handled by trained staff are a good protection, there are a lot of problems with how masks are being used and the claims associated with the current use. In the way they are used currently- which is poorly made masks used by non-trained laymen- they are a risk of giving people a false sense of security and likely are not as effective as people think they are, especially not the home made fabric masks that people just take off, wash and reuse (or keep on during the entire day). The US has become pretty narrowminded when it comes to the use of masks, when in reality there should be much more focus on staying at home, keeping distance and (the most important one) washing your hands. It's reasonable to believe masks have some effect but it should not be the priority countermeasure the way it has become.