Masks need to be viewed from the lens of what you want to protect.
If you are protecting other, you want something that keeps you germs / particulates as close to you has possible. Scarves and paper masks help here.
If you are protecting yourself, you want something that keeps germs / particulates as far away from you as possible. This requires a respirator that is N95 or N100 .... can be sterilized, and is tightly fitted to the face. Not your normal surgical mask.
A four-year long study published in JAMA established that surgical masks are just as effective at preventing Influenza A and B as N95 masks.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214