No, you do not need to wear a mask while talking on the phone. Germs, including viruses, generally do not spread through sound waves. Respiratory infections, such as COVID-19, primarily spread through respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes heavily. These droplets are larger in size and can contain infectious particles like viruses.
When you talk on the phone, you are not physically present with the person on the other end, and therefore there is no direct transfer of respiratory droplets between you and the other person. The risk of transmission through sound waves alone is negligible.
However, it's important to note that if you are in close proximity to others and speaking face-to-face, the respiratory droplets produced when speaking can potentially spread infections if one person is infected. In such situations, wearing masks can help reduce the risk of transmission by blocking the release of droplets into the air and preventing inhalation by others.
In general, it is advisable to follow local health guidelines and recommendations regarding mask usage in specific settings and situations. These guidelines may vary depending on the prevalence of infections in your community and the specific context in which you are interacting with others.