It's idiocy, really and frightening that medical professionals bought into this nonsense. Any mask studies done before covid were clear on this yet they ran with it, pushed it and punished if you didn't follow it. I was literally hounded at a Dr's office after a surgery for this. I don't breathe well so I refused to wear a mask. The CEO of the place actually sent some poor girl to hunt me down and confront me. I told her to have the CEO come and tell me herself. They finally agreed to let me get the molded cast I was getting then I told them I wouldn't be back and I never was. If I need another ortho, I won't go back to them. It was infuriating and against the science that was known.
We live in a world of sometimes useful idiots.
Was a major psyop and propaganda campaign. The useful idiots on the left made it worse by playing along for political reasons, cowardice, and/or some sense of self righteousness.
Sorry you had to deal with that. I went through hell for 2 years in my work environment for asking questions and bucking back against things that defied science.