What drove the Covid misinformation ‘infodemic’?

No mention at all about the press and experts lying and saying masks don't work so there was lessened demand. And then admitting they lied a few weeks later. Any intelligent observer can see the media and experts contributed to the misinformation infodemic.

Now, and in the future, when the press and experts say something one should be very skeptical. Are they simply lying for some hidden purpose which they believe is the greater good? Nobody likes to talk about this, seems the experts and press would rather we all forget.