Now the word here, and other places, is masks are good. We should have masked up in the beginning.
The reason 'they' told us not to mask up so that there would be masks available for emergency workers. (Fair enough. I begrudge that less, now.)
But there were no masks to buy even back in January. I imagine word got out in China and the ordinary people bought em up. Even with a CHICOM information crackdown, folks hear. But that's just my guess.
I have 2 dozen masks. I am saving them for if I get sick, or exposed. I'll wear it going to the doc or the store or whatever.