I find it difficult to understand the point this article is really making. The early "confusion" about mask wearing (based on making sure that front-line workers could get N95 masks) is now long over. All the peer-review evidence I have seen shows that masks, as part of an overall strategy, are very effective at reducing the risk of Covid spread. Not eliminate, but reduce.
Try is article is from 2016, and also basically incoherent.