[neilv]

I think an additional benefit of the masks is that they signal something about the person's Covid conscientiousness -- which I suspect affects how likely they are to be a carrier, and how likely they are to be careful about spreading it if they are.

(Though that signal didn't help me in Trader Joe's the other day, when one of the few employees wearing a mask (only surgical), turned out to have a phlegmy cough. In that case, I imagine the logic might've been, "You're obviously sick and probably spreading something, maybe Covid? We don't pay you to stay home. Strap on the least effective mask you can find, which suddenly we believe in, and get out there and superspread among shoppers!" :( )

[rajup]

An additional way to virtue signal is a benefit? Weird world we live in…

[neilv]

Signalling as communication of information (e.g., "I'm following these practices, which tells you something about what to expect about things that might be important to you"). Not the "virtue signalling" meme talking point to dismiss.