Surgical masks are not sealed. You breathe unfiltered room air that enters the mask around the edges. Thus, no protection. Paper masks can stop some bigger droplets and redirect many around the edges and to the side or behind you which can offer some protection directly in front. It's a doseage game, really. reduction, not removal.

(Properly maintained, professionally fit tested respirators DO block virus transmission, by the way. They are no fun to wear for long periods of time, however and so are really a solution when in exposure situations of finite duration).

Soap likewise works through particle recuction on your hands. It also works by disrupting the outer lipid membrane of the virus, which contains the protein spikes used by the virus to attach to and enter the cells. Without it, that virion can not infect or replicate. We are lucky that corona is an enveloped type of virus. If not, it would be a LOT tougher to inactivate.

They are telling you that because there are not enough masks to go around, and health care workers actually Need the ones there are.
And you misunderstand about the washing your hands thing...yes you are in your home. Bring in the mail and/or a package? Sign the receipt for fuel delivery? Open that mail/package? Take a can of something out of the cabinet?
Coronavirus, unlike other viruses, can live on hard surfaces for DAYS.
in addition, where did you get the idea it has "disappeared" from China, etc... NOT !