you're not wrong to be. I think the problem is that there's this perception that you must be authoritative to get people to do things, and also this perception that science is authoritative. As a former scientist I think both are wrong, and especially science under duress is likely to be even wronger, for many reasons. We don't live in star trek where you can boop boop a console and magically get answers.

I wish we had leaders that had the chutzpah to say things like, "look the science is inconclusive, so we won't arrest you, but please do the right thing and wear masks". But we don't. And also we have people spouting completely non-evidence based assertions like "if you don't force people to wear masks, then they won't". Which of course fuels assholes to flaunt not wearing masks, because now it's not about doing the right thing, it's about freedom.