Honestly it is the same form of reporting similar to how all the "trading experts" go on MSNBC and tell everyone the market is going to be fine to prevent panic selling. In this case they do advise it to prevent people from hoarding all the masks so there will be some left for the medical professionals who need them more.
The article didn't mention cloth masks. Not the protection of medical grade masks to be sure, but they do lessen the probability that the wearer will infect others. Which will slow the spread.