Actually, they really only lend a false sense of security.  Paper face masks are to prevent spreading droplets to others, thus passing along the disease.  You can still get the virus from anyplace it may land on your face.  Like your eyes.  Or touching something and then touching your face, eyes, nose, mouth.  For proper protection, you'd really need a mask with a plastic eye shield.  (I worked as an RN for several years before I married, in case you were wondering about credentials on this).

About 6 years ago, I bought a box of twenty N95 masks for only $5 including free shipping off of Ebay. The masks are NIOSH approved, too. Gerson brand. Times have certainly changed.

I Was out walking and a local cell phone store was selling loose paper face masks for two dollars each. So I bought five. Was I ripped off? I thought if things get bad we might want to have them.

I don't know Matto, agree with jvk, for the last +10 years they always showed China's people in public wearing masks, it always looked like a bunch of doctors walking around in public with their masks on +  China is where the virus came from =  masks are useless against this virus.