WHO now recommending everyone wears masks. Why did it take so long?
Pure and simple: Western arrogance.
Most WHO resources were/are European and American and the western medical paradigm is that face masks are for personal protection NOT for protection of the overall population.
This paradigm ts totally reversed in the far east. Through hard experience of the Chinese new disease factory they know the mask prevents the wearer from infecting others.
This paradigm is do deeply ingrained that DHSC officials refused to believe that there is an alternative. Most still insist it is of minimal benefit because the wearer only benefits by 10% and only then if masks are put on and taken off properly. They totally ignore the 20% (bandana) to 55% (surgical mask) benefit from 80% of the population wearing them in confined spaces and stopping the spread to others.
Honestly it's like the French believing that the static defences of the Magiinot line would win the day in WW2.
It is totally ingrained in the establishment of the DHSC, PHE and NHS. This spills over into the BBC who still parrot the minimal advantage rubbish - and it is rubbish, total rubbish.
Here is an article from the Telegraph from 15th April after the US CDC changed track in response to scientific studies in the far east and in the US.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/face-masks-asking-coronavirus/
The arrogance of DHSC officials back then is incredible when swine flu was beginning. They clearly haven't changed much.
Perhaps the shortage of PPE was critical to the UK government not changing tack till we were ready to reverse lockdown. I kind of understand that but I believe this decision still delayed squashing new case numbers by 3 or 4 weeks and doubling deaths. We have waited too long.
A CASE STUDY
For a practical example of the difference face masks make in a western country consider the difference between Austria and Czechia. Czechia has a slightly larger population and population density, but both nations are similar in that they have one big City and lower populated regions:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Czech_Republic
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Austria
Both Czechia and Austria had similar Coronavirus case levels and deaths in mid March. Then Czechia made face masks compulsory
Within 2 weeks cases were halved in Czechia compared with Austria.
Austria adopted the masks as per Czechia on 6th April and new cases fell 90% overnight.
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articl...us-cases-requiring-people-wear-face-masks.htm
Austria now has had double the cases and deaths of Czechia by waiting two weeks to implement a face mask policy. Incidently the drop of 90% is the result of lockdown + facemasks.
The evidence is OVERWHELMING it is not marginal.
