These are all great ideas. I can perfectly align with this sensible replies. Artmis3 has some nice thoughts but part from his kind effort he is fully incorrect in my sensible estimation.
If they are wearing anti gas masks to suck the germs of other people in, I think that would not be good for them, so I think you are thinking the wrong ideas of their purpose to wear it. Also why they wear the diver mask and gloves ? This was for their own protect but one look very sick he did not remember his goggle and his eyes are appearing red or maybe was crying.
Your other ideas are good. It can be true that I can escape from nothing and run into a plume of vapour earlier exploded into the air where I escape too. Still I will think that because this corona is most from China I will avoid this sickly looking Chinese first above other that don't look sick including Chinese too because I don't be a racist. I must use my math probability skill set to navigate the dangerous waters of life like my math teacher always say to the class.
I feel good today because now my friends have told me I will be run down by a train and blown up by a light bolt from the storm strike and crushed by a meteorite in my bed before corona virus can kill me. All of those sound easier than to be drowning in mucus. I think they mean or not and because 1 will be sufficient and the probability too much with and. Or is perhaps still a joking idea.
My opinion is the best idea to still avoid persons looking sick and sneezing. I don't need to remain there inhaling their germs because they are different race to my one. Any race looking ill and sneaking I will avoid it.
Also I google anti gas mask I think he is joking who want to suck worse gas inside their mask. Maybe comes with free tank of poison gas to try it out lol ...the concentration when released into the room not enough to kill unless you wearing anti gas mask and it filter out the non harmful part to ensure certain death lol
Artemis3 was joke me I think

I enjoy your post it a good one and funny to teach me a lesson.