Concerned over shortages of face masks, U.S. medical authorities initially discouraged the use of face masks by the public. But a good deal of evidence (Jefferson T 2007) shows that face masks reduced the risk of infection by 68% in SARS, an analogue of COVID-19. This suggests that wearing face masks can go far toward slowing the spread of the pandemic. Therefore, we need to find a way to provide enough of them not just to protect medical personnel but also to protect the public. Reusing them seems a very attractive strategy.
