What Is The Purpose Of Holding The Lid Over The Agar Plate While Inoculating?

What Is The Purpose Of Holding The Lid Over The Agar Plate While Inoculating? Petri dish lids prevent dust from falling directly onto plates but allow diffusion of air around the edges. There are no direct air currents into the plate, and to enter, dust particles would have to rise vertically more than a centimeter.