Thats the question I am struggling with, what does it takes to set up infrastructure for masks on scale, maybe somewhat lower quality for the population. Compared to the cost of shutting down lives of people which would have a very long term impact.

Certainly N95 and such should go to providers but if everybody used even a cotton bandana on their face would help.

That's a reasonable argument to make, and a correct one.

That's different from the lie which is being given to the population: that they don't help.

I totally agree that first responders need to get them first. This virus will not go away. We need to plan towards the future until we get a vaccine or there's enough herd immunity that it's no longer a threat.

See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22708139