For what is worth: many health authorities world-wide have used the same strategy (conserve mask for healthcare by not advocating/dissuading their use). Taiwan

For what is worth: many health authorities world-wide have used the same strategy (conserve mask for healthcare by not advocating/dissuading their use). Taiwan and Korea being notable outliers. So it is not that the CDC was malicious / selfish / conspiring. They did what they believed was the best policy response. Even if we know better now that they should have just published instructions on making community masks and advocating their use.