The former MN State Epidemiologist Osterholm mentioned that H1N1 only survives for about a minute outside the body. So if you see someone cough on their hand, don't shake hands. During that minute, however, it is very transmissible in aerosols, so if someone coughs or sneezes anywhere near you, you're done for.

Masks work a lot better when they're worn by people who are ill, it slows down any aerosols they breath out so fewer viruses get in the air. If you're healthy and wearing a mask, you can still get it through the eyes.

But hand washing works quite well on most other illnesses, so keep doing it!