[fullmetal]

You're correct that viral particles do not float freely in the air.  They're always suspended in moisture droplets that are easily captured by exhalers' masks (or at least slowed down), if they're N95-grade.  Even if the masks aren't N95-grade, slowing down the exhalations is big. It prevents droplets from traveling very far, which is where the effectiveness of social distancing comes into play.  

But yeah, reducing the speed of exhalations is a big deal in particle travel/flow.  And inhaling with a mask definitely helps filter out particles assuming the mask is of sufficient grade.

They figured this out in China when initial frontline medical staff in the covid crisis were also catching the disease and dropping like flies.  Once PPE became standard, the rate at which medical staff were getting sick/dying decreased rapidly.  I think the Italian healthcare staff benefited from that initial experience of viral contagion before and after PPE standards.

[fullmetal]

You're correct that viral particles do not float freely in the air.  They're always suspended in moisture droplets that are easily captured by exhalers' masks (or at least slowed down), if they're N95-grade.  Even if the masks aren't N95-grade, slowing down the exhalations is big. It prevents droplets from traveling very far, which is where the effectiveness of social distancing comes into play.  

But yeah, reducing the speed of exhalations is a big deal in particle travel/flow.  And inhaling with a mask definitely helps filter out particles assuming the mask is of sufficient grade.

They figured this out in China when initial frontline medical staff in the covid crisis were also catching the disease and dropping like flies.  Once PPE became standard, the rate at which medical staff were getting sick/dying decreased rapidly.  I think the Italian healthcare staff benefited from that initial experience of viral contagion before and after PPE standards.