Yes the truth is masks help, but officials decided to lie about this to prevent panic over lack of masks. But this is damaging not only to official credibilit

Yes the truth is masks help, but officials decided to lie about this to prevent panic over lack of masks. But this is damaging not only to official credibility but also to the response. A big demand for masks in January could have forced new supply chains to develop in the west. That would have averted some of the current disaster happening where hospitals can't get masks.