The problem is that truth is always nuanced and never as simple as it needs to be to get a clear message out. It's fluid and a lot of people don't understand it can and will change - or worse conditioned to think changing your opinion due to changing or additional facts is flip-flopping and therefore bad.

The problem is that to keep it simple you have to omit information and sometimes lie to get the needed outcome and sometime not correct incorrect but not harmful advice to keep it simple.

But I do think they screwed up with the early mask advice. With masks, they are not effective protection if it's just you wearing the mask - but there is some value when everyone does. They should have mandated wearing masks from the start like in Taiwan, Singapore, HK. Simple.