Not sure how accurate this is, but I heard the initial "no need for masks" advice was given to the public so masks could be prioritized for hospitals and medica

Not sure how accurate this is, but I heard the initial "no need for masks" advice was given to the public so masks could be prioritized for hospitals and medical staff. At least in a setting where you're around large quantities of virus containing aerosols, it would be intuitive for a mask to make a difference. Like radiation, the amount of viral material has some correlation to outcomes, I believe.