I am qualified, I would say 5 years of biochemistry and engineering studies resulting in a M.sc in protein science and yeah viruses are essentially proteins with some RNA or DNa inside .. I am not arguing that the mask could not work in theory or in a very controlled environment, for preventing droplets to spreading in the air, to stop a single virus is impossible for simple N/M 95/94 masks and not what they are designed to do.
I am saying masks SEEM to have no effect on the spread in society if you compare mask mandate schools and states with non mandate schools and states. It even seems like mask mandate states are worse off, and i said strange.
I would guess that masks are used poorly and that masked citizens think they are protected more than they actually are, which leads to unnecessary risk behavior.