I think it's more that they were suggesting that an aggressive response to COVID19 would have appeared to be an anti-China move, and thus further jeopardize the US relationship with China.
Pandering to China wasn't a particular priority of the US government at the time.
Is the idea that mask policy would make up for all the politicians calling it "the China virus"?
WHO isn't part of the US government though.
The other commenter brought in the US relationship with China.
I agree my comment doesn't reply to stuff higher up in the thread.