The box isn't faked, but it has incorrect information. Initially it was thought that only an N95 mask would provide any protection for the
wearer. It had been known for a long time that fabric masks would protect others from an infected individual wearing one. Hence, OR personnel wore masks, even if they weren't N95, because the patient was thereby protected.
The CDC recommends cloth face coverings be worn in public areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
But the CDC does note, “A cloth face covering may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others.” By wearing a cloth covering in public, the spread of the virus can be slowed by lessening the transmission to others.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...otect-others-contracting-covid-19/5333264002/
Now, data seems to indicate that loop masks also provide some protection to the wearer as well as protecting those around him. The manufacturer either printed up the box before this was discovered, or simply didn't know about the research.
Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Oct;26(10):e200948
Effectiveness of Cloth Masks for Protection Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
Abrar A Chughtai, Holly Seale, C Raina Macintyre
Abstract
Cloth masks have been used in healthcare and community settings to protect the wearer from respiratory infections. The use of cloth masks during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is under debate. The filtration effectiveness of cloth masks is generally lower than that of medical masks and respirators; however, cloth masks may provide some protection if well designed and used correctly. Multilayer cloth masks, designed to fit around the face and made of water-resistant fabric with a high number of threads and finer weave, may provide reasonable protection. Until a cloth mask design is proven to be equally effective as a medical or N95 mask, wearing cloth masks should not be mandated for healthcare workers. In community settings, however, cloth masks may be used to prevent community spread of infections by sick or asymptomatically infected persons, and the public should be educated about their correct use.
So it's like seat belts. They save lives, but they aren't 100% effective. How effective they are, depends on the construction and fit of the masks. So yes, even poorly-constructed and ill-fitting masks partially protect the wearer. Sometimes, it's hard to see why people don't get that.
Partially it's the political biases of people prevent them from thinking very clearly about the issue, and part of it is, most of those people aren't very smart.