Our best guess is that the CDC is trying to conserve masks for health care professionals and others with the highest need, in the face of a looming mask shortage. That could easily be the optimum mask allocation. I can’t prove the lie wasn’t justified for the greater good. But it is another example of the CDC placing “getting the outcome it wants” over “telling people the literal truth.”
As far as I can tell, the CDC hasn’t uttered a literal lie about this. In the link, they only say “CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19”, which is a recommendation, rather than a statement of efficacy. It could be motivated by a desire to stop mask-hoarding, as you say, or by the belief that typical usage of masks (including reuse, frequently readjusting the mask and thereby touching your face, etc) actually harms people more than it helps them.
(It’s interesting that the link also says “The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).” This is (i) an admission that masks can protect you when you’re close to someone sick, and (ii) does provide an incentive for people to hoard masks, if they think they’re going to be taking care of someone.)
Regardless, it’s fair to say that they’re placing “getting the outcome it wants” at least over “telling people the full truth”, and that this is a strike against the CDC’s trustworthiness.
Edit: This SSC says that the CDC has been advising the public against using masks for a long time, so whatever they’re saying, they’re probably saying it for different reasons than to stop hoarding.
As far as I can tell, the CDC hasn’t uttered a literal lie about this
They definitely haven’t written down a literal lie. A lot of newsarticlessay or implyone though, and people are walking away with the impression the CDC has anti-recommended masks. A friend has suggested they’re more actively discouraging masks in press conferences, but I couldn’t find proof so I left that out.
It’s certainly possible that uninformed usage of masks is net-negative, and that it’s not possible to inform the general public of correct usage. I haven’t seen any evidence of that though. Meanwhile, China is requiring them.
To be clear, China started requiring mask usage, but also put in place price controls on masks, and limited mask purchases to 2 per week. Then they ensured that companies were building factories almost overnight to mass produce them. These might be good ideas, but as with many other things, it’s not within CDC’s abilities to do, so I think it’s reasonable for the CDC to do what it can to actually reduce risks.
And “don’t trust CDC because they haven’t lied but they didn’t advise things that might help but would be harmful overall to the public” is one hell of a take.
As far as I can tell, the CDC hasn’t uttered a literal lie about this. In the link, they only say “CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19”, which is a recommendation, rather than a statement of efficacy. It could be motivated by a desire to stop mask-hoarding, as you say, or by the belief that typical usage of masks (including reuse, frequently readjusting the mask and thereby touching your face, etc) actually harms people more than it helps them.
(It’s interesting that the link also says “The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).” This is (i) an admission that masks can protect you when you’re close to someone sick, and (ii) does provide an incentive for people to hoard masks, if they think they’re going to be taking care of someone.)
Regardless, it’s fair to say that they’re placing “getting the outcome it wants” at least over “telling people the full truth”, and that this is a strike against the CDC’s trustworthiness.
Edit: This SSC says that the CDC has been advising the public against using masks for a long time, so whatever they’re saying, they’re probably saying it for different reasons than to stop hoarding.
They definitely haven’t written down a literal lie. A lot of news articles say or imply one though, and people are walking away with the impression the CDC has anti-recommended masks. A friend has suggested they’re more actively discouraging masks in press conferences, but I couldn’t find proof so I left that out.
It’s certainly possible that uninformed usage of masks is net-negative, and that it’s not possible to inform the general public of correct usage. I haven’t seen any evidence of that though. Meanwhile, China is requiring them.
To be clear, China started requiring mask usage, but also put in place price controls on masks, and limited mask purchases to 2 per week. Then they ensured that companies were building factories almost overnight to mass produce them. These might be good ideas, but as with many other things, it’s not within CDC’s abilities to do, so I think it’s reasonable for the CDC to do what it can to actually reduce risks.
And “don’t trust CDC because they haven’t lied but they didn’t advise things that might help but would be harmful overall to the public” is one hell of a take.