What about it? Uncertainty around transmission rates/methods, uncertainty around being able to equip medical professionals, and uncertainty that the public would not touch their face/consistently wash hands and mask/wear it effectively are all significant pieces of context for that statement.

But that's not what he said is it? He didn't say, "Masks are important, but right now we need to save them for our frontline workers, so please, stay home, let us get this under control and stock our healthcare system appropriately, and then get your mask. Don't hoard masks like toilet paper. It will harm our society."

No, he said masks aren't helpful. He lied to manipulate people. He caused people to mistrust the system because he isn't trustworthy.

Your first paragraph pseudo-quote is almost precisely what he said: https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-dr-fauci-say-no-mask...

Your second paragraph/claim is completely unfounded. It’s been a year, dude. Get a grip.

I saw and heard him say it, so linking to an article that says he didn't won't work. Saying "Get a grip." is just the kind of condescension that ruins your credibility. You don't have facts to back up your claims, just insults and disrespect.

Dr. Fauci exactly said, “There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask. When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is. And, often, there are unintended consequences — people keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face.”

Should we give your long list of uncertainties to Trump as well? Or only to Fauci? And BTW, he was saying this as Italian hospitals were overwhelmed by a new respiratory virus.

I’ll attribute the uncertainties chalked up to a lack of evidence as stated by a doctor to the doctor, and the uncertainties based on a fragile ego and willful ignorance to the doubly impeached former president.

For now, we’re talking about the former and his advice during the pandemic.

And for some reason people are dead-set on dropping conventional wisdom despite in most countries the experts having disastrously failed.