There is a lot of misinformation out there. When we are told to wear masks, we trust that the mask is doing something. And, actually, it is but it is behavioral not protective. Wearing a mask is intended to remind us that we are vulnerable, not safe. Yes, people are tending to think that the mask is a physical barrier against infection. You are correct. Wearing a mask gives one a sense of security and safety. The CDC now recommends wearing a cloth mask in public. So far, 7 states have made wearing a mask mandatory. The theory is that the mask will not prevent YOU from being infected but might decrease the chance that you will infect someone else. It is the same reason you wear a mask as an EMR. Your mask is not to protect you but to protect your patient from you.