I have a coworker who wears a mask almost every day. (We work with small children, AKA sentient petri dishes. Wearing a mask by default isn’t a bad idea.)

I’m not that hardcore, but I’ve found that they help even in non-illness situations. Like when the air is cold and dry, wearing a mask means the air I breathe is warmer. Not only is it more comfortable, but it prevents the post-nasal drip that such conditions usually trigger. Without post-nasal drip, my throat is less likely to become irritated. An irritated throat can lead to laryngitis.

Ergo, wearing a mask on cold, dry days prevents an entire chain of shitty events from taking place. The people stubbornly digging their heels in against masks have no idea what incidental benefits they’re missing.