Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Fact: If your daily routine brings you into proximity with an infected person you’re less likely to become infected yourself if you’re wearing a mask.

If it’s irresponsible to buy a mask when healthcare providers need them much more that’s how it should be expressed but saying “they’re not effective” for the general public is clearly disingenuous on a personal level based on the comments that directly follow. The Surgeon General‘s credibility is undermined by the self-contradictory nature of his comment. Just say it like it is.