That's a fairly insane take!

1) Do cloth masks work or have any value? Trivial to google. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7510705/

2) Do you honestly think that 124 people have died to prop up science funding?

If so, can you think of an easier way for US researchers to advance their evil plans and secure funding than having these people in a completely different country die and that country's health authority raises concerns in the media? I mean, even if that is the plan, don't you think that's a bit subtle and ineffective to convince a highly conservative; conspiracy theory friendly US administration to fund science?