These are a few I could find about experts saying that we don't need masks or they wouldn't really stop the spread. These are harder to find since they were released mainly in March/April. The message was out there.
Wearing masks and gloves as a precaution against coronavirus is ineffective, unnecessary for the vast majority of people, and may even spread infections faster, experts said Tuesday.
medicalxpress.com
At a briefing today, WHO officials said they recommend that masks be worn by those with coronavirus or those in close contact with people infected.
www.weforum.org
There were quite a few articles about neck gaitors and to a lesser extent bandana's not being effective. Article on study about neck gaitors not stopping the spread of COVID.
New research shows some neck gaiters may be ineffective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Here's what you should wear instead.
www.usatoday.com
So, you said:
The first message was masks don't work
In your first source to back this claim up, we find this:
Wearing masks and gloves as a precaution against coronavirus is ineffective, unnecessary for the vast majority of people, and may even spread infections faster, experts said Tuesday.
While near-total lockdowns have been imposed in Italy, Spain and now France, the World Health Organization's advice has remained unchanged since the start of the global outbreak: wash your hands, don't touch your face, and keep your distance.
The WHO says it is advisable to wear a protective mask in public if you suspect you are infected or someone you are caring for is, in which case the advice is to stay home whenever possible.
Now, why would WHO advise to wear a mask if they don't work? Well, you may point to the first sentence which says:
Wearing masks and gloves as a precaution against coronavirus is ineffective, unnecessary for the vast majority of people, and may even spread infections faster, experts said Tuesday.
So, why the seeming difference in recommendations? Because from that same article...
"There are limits to how a mask can protect you from being infected and we've said the most important thing everyone can do is wash your hands, keep your hands away from your face, observe very precise hygiene," said WHO's emergencies director Mike Ryan.
Contaminated masks
As well as hoovering up stocks sorely needed by medical professionals, experts say masks can give people who wear them a false sense of security.
For example, many people who wear them don't follow the official advice of washing their hands thoroughly first, ensuring it's air tight and not to touch it once it's on.
Because the recommendation was to wear it if you were sick with COVID or exposed to it so that you don't spread it... which is the main reason everyone's been saying we should wear masks, not to protect ourselves, but to protect others. That the article you quote to show that experts were saying "masks don't work" actually shows they were saying masks do indeed work... to protect others if you have the virus.
They then go on to say how people unused to wearing mask can ruin their own hygiene bubble by not wearing a mask correctly. And given the shortage, leave them for the professionals OR FOR YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE THE VIRUS OR BEEN EXPOSED. Because masks work, which is the opposite of your characterization of what you say experts were saying.
The second article you quote to show that the experts were saying masks don't work is the same thing.
Masks should be worn by those with the disease or those in close contact with those infected.
Why would WHO make that recommendation to wear a mask if "masks don't work"?
The third article with the strawman about non-mask masks is ridiculous to even bring up.
Ya see, this is why we ask for a source and a Haha emoji is a puerile response to such a request.
