[runnerup]

Well the argument is masks work better until there’s a mask shortage for any reason, or any large drop in percentage of people wearing a mask. Then you might see an impactfully large pandemic that could have been avoided if we had more frequent sub clinical or non epidemic infections over the preceeding decades.

For example if there were a war and China cut off EU/USA supply for N95’s. In the 1-6 months it might take USA to build domestic capacity there could be a large outbreak of something which cripples our national readiness at a critical time.

[akhmatova]

If war breaks out with China the current pandemic will be the least of your worries.