[psahgal]

I think the journalists heard the nuanced explanation from the experts on the mask recommendations, instead of the simplified one that is criticized in the article. Journalists have biases and a media diet too, so it's possible they heard the whole story from the start and didn't see the controversy.

Personally, I'm surprised this article suggests Fauci lied, because I definitely remember reading about the full explanation behind the CDC's recommendation against public mask wearing way back in March 2020. I remember reading that the recommendation against public mask wearing was mainly due to supply chain concerns, and that the general public should use improvised masks instead, if they can.

...maybe a lot of people only heard the short soundbites instead of the full story...? I'm just speculating here.

[raclage]

Yeah that's a good point. And I may be a little bit guilty of scapegoating Fauci for the official response generally. But while that full explanation was out there in March I think of Feburary as being the most confusing time when advice not to wear a mask was most prevalent. From a CDC post at the end of February: "Only healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients, people who are sick with COVID-19, or in some cases people caring for patients who are sick with COVID-19 need precautions like a facemask to help limit their risk of spreading COVID-19."

If felt like we lived through four ages in as many months at the beginning of last year.

[psahgal]

Also would like to mention that someone dug up one of Fauci's interviews back in March 2020 about his recommendation on masks: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26623260

The CDC post is in line with Fauci's recommendation. My understanding is that the original recommendation was to avoid a shortage of masks during a critical period of the pandemic.

[ghaff]

Things changed quickly in February. I was in Europe for 3 weeks January into February and things were 100% business as usual. Then there started to be worrisome signs as February went on but I was at an IT industry event first week in March with no handshaking and wiping of surfaces but no otherwise distancing. (And then things shut down and had to change flights back home.)