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> "Why not simply... make more?"

besides the obvious lack of spare manufacturing capacity, we didn't really need to. we already had the simpler, more effective, and immediately available mitigation of distancing. masks are for performative signaling and any old piece of cloth is fine for that, as we saw eventually be recommended.

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Distancing is not adequate to prevent spread indoors. There are loads of cases of infection from beyond that distance.

The problem is that distancing has huge economic downsides whereas masks have none.

> "The problem is that distancing has huge economic downsides whereas masks have none."

the question was about making more masks, which is literally limited by economic realities. you'd also need to provide at least some rationale for the rest of your statement for it to be taken seriously.

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