Viruses are not 'particles.' They transmit through the air by being attached to particles, such as dust, water droplets, etc. When someone coughs and spews millions of microscopic virus-laden snot water droplets into the air, they float around in the air for several minutes or more for other people to breathe in. Guess what? Screw the CDC, I'd rather wear a mask that *might* protect me as opposed to just breathing in sick people air.
Too late for me, anyway 
