They keep talking about how masks does help and show Taiwan can produce a lot and then show pictures from the US of people with respirators - not masks.<p>If you don't understand the difference between a mask and a respirator I'm not surprised you misunderstand the surgeon general. Masks is to keep spit and the likes away from others (no it doesn't filter viruses), respirators are for filtering viruses, etc. in both directions (unless it has a valve, then it only filters air in, not out).<p>Unless you use sterilisation for your masks and respirators they need to be used only for short amount of time and you need to wear gloves when you take it off. If you just use it as most people outside of healthcare does all you are doing is wearing a Corona bomb on your face. Keeping alittle distance is much better and won't cause respirator shortage.