> even though the research link that I posted had actual covid patients coughing wearing masks and proved that it didn't stop the virus?
It's not about stopping a cough, it's about slowing down and stopping the spread of the virus, by lowering the transmission rate, ideally to less than 1. The thinking is that masks, worn by all, would contribute towards that.
E.g. if a cough transports the virus ten feet when the cougher is without a mask, and two feet when they're wearing a mask, then a mask is helpful to you if you're standing eight feet from the cougher. The cougher will infect fewer people, and that will ultimately stop the virus (for a while, at least).