Isn't this still technically almost correct? The surgeon's masks don't entirely filter the virus out of the air. However, they work for a society because they prevent the virus from spreading into the air from those who are already infected.
The surgeon general disagrees with this claim. He claims that the masks do protect the healthcare workers. You can see the claim in this tweet, where he also claims that the masks don't protect you.
Because properly equipped healthcare workers are also wearing eye protection. SARS-CoV-2 will quite happily enter at the eyes; in fact, eyes are a bigger attack surface than nostrils.
With respect to protection from SARS coronaviruses, wearing just a mask and no eye protection is like a hockey goalie wearing a helmet but no mask.
> like a hockey goalie wearing a helmet but no mask.
An apt comparison -- a damage reduction by 66% using only a fabric mask is massively worse than a damage reduction by 95% using proper PPE and procedures. In fact, it leaves you 7 times more likely to get infected (get hurt by a puck). But if anyone tried to sell the NHL-watching public the line that "helmets don't help", they would be rightfully humiliated in public.
