Protective gear? the instructions

CDC site on how to wear protective gear if you are nursing a patient with Wuhan flu or any other dangerous infectious disease.

NO, those flimsy face masks won't protect you, but they will help stop your spit/cough from infecting others.

the facemask you need is pretty thick and has to be fitted to your face for a tight fit. I had one when I worked for the IHS because we treated TB cases and our hospital had one "negative pressure" room for infectious disease, (i.e. the air was pumped out of the room through a filter into the outside air, so those outside the room and nearby rooms wouldn't catch the influenza/TB/etc.)

the heavy facemaks that work are tight and hot: some more modern ones have a portal ("exhalation valve") for exhaled breath which would help you breathe.

the bad news? I only had one, meaning that if we actually had a patient I'd have to discard it and find another one. And of course, I didn't bring it here.

most of the heavy respirator masks on Amazon seem to be for those working in dusty environments, which might work but are not approved, and the health care workers are supposed to use more specialized masks.

Facemasks that are approved by the CDC:
The FDA has cleared the following N95 respirators for use by the general public in public health medical emergencies:

• 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8670F

• 3M™ Particulate Respirator 8612F

• Pasture Tm F550G Respirator

• Pasture Tm A520G Respirator

These devices are labeled "NOT for occupational use.”...

However, some N95 respirators are intended for use in a healthcare setting. Specifically, single-use, disposable respiratory protective devices used and worn by healthcare personnel during procedures to protect both the patient and healthcare personnel from the transfer of microorganisms, body fluids, and particulate material.  this article discusses the masks for health care workers

in short, if the virus is in the air, most of the flimsy masks won't protect you from the virus since it can enter through the fabric or around it above and below and on the sides of the mask.

But it will help with larger watery particulate matter, and of course, it will stop you from spreading sneeze and cough droplets to others.

One question I can't find: I used a "ski mask" when walking outdoors in Minnesota because I have cold induced asthma. Would these masks or the equivalent work? Again probably not for airborn virus, but yes for water borne germs when you spit/cough/ sneeze.and before there were facemasks, there were handkerchiefs:
And anyway, you are more likely to catch it from touching a surface that was conaminated by a cough or an infected person's hand.Which is why, at our bank, they had alcohol dispensers to clean your hands.