Sure masks make it easier to get the virus, and people are going to wear them incorrectly and touch their faces more, and there aren't enough anyway.
Jeez. Anyone believe any of that, except the last part (poor planning and organization there).
Btw, the mask I bought for $3 at a Shanghai pharmacy has a flap inside where you stick in a filter (3 came with the mask), allowing it to block particles 2.5 microns or greater. The mask and filters are washable. And the mask is stylishly black.
In Shanghai, where masks are obligatory in public, and everyone wears them, the official count is 342 cases, 321 cured. My district which probably has 500k people has had 19 cases , 18 officially cured. Friends have told me of cases in my area. Reportedly the maternity hospital directly across the street had a fairly early case (pre Feb, I think it was). Supposedly there were two cases in the subway station two blocks from me. And apparently a couple cases of transiting passengers in the Shanghai airport. I wear the mask as a courtesy to others as much as to protect myself.
The precautions here are impressive. The whole city is under voluntary lockdown. You can ago out as you please and food stores and restaurants, cafes and some clothing stores are open. Not much else. Guards patrol the entrance to every building and alleyway community. To enter if you don't live there, you must have a legit reason, show ID, get your temp checked, and write your name and ID # and phone # in a log book, for contact tracing if any case turns up at that location. They also offer hand sanitizer. Schools and gathering places closed for a month now. Online classes and work from home. Soon there will be no cases in SH, which is more than NYC or SF can say.
It makes sense to take precautions early before there is a Northern Italy/Iran/So Korea style outbreak in the US or elsewhere.