I keep seeing "expert opinion" that there is no evidence masks have a positive effect on infection rates, and yet, peer reviewed literature says they do, and PPE worn by doctors includes masks. I agree that hoarding masks that doctors need is antisocial, but so is lying.
The truth is, if there were enough to go around, if everyone wore them, it would lower the R0, and thus lower the expected number of infections over time quite dramatically. Unfortunately, because of stupidity, there simply aren't enough even for health professionals.
And make no mistake: health professionals need them much more than ordinary people. They get constant exposure and if something happens to them, there will be no one to treat you if you need hospitalization. But in an ideal world, we would have them on everyone.
What I think is happening is that "experts" are scared there won't be enough available for healthcare professionals (who do need them more than you probably do!) and so they lie. But it isn't like ordinary people can get them any more anyway, and it's just plain deceptive.
Given that this plague is going to be around for quite a while, it's important to ramp up production so everyone can have them. But this also requires that we quit telling fibs so public officials and companies will understand why it would be useful.
