[Colin2B]

The virus would have to be very infectious to beat the masks and spread right across the US, so maybe it's a pathogen that spreads by fomites...

As far as I am aware mask use was not universal across the US and seems to have been split along political and religious lines. Response in various states appear to follow similar lines.

not that I'm suggeating the US deliberately released such a pathogen across the country.

Probably best not to mention it at all in that case. I’m sure there will be those who think you are.

and now they're telling us washing our hands is not so important,

That seems to be a response to more recent studies which shed more light on transmission risks. It’s good to be kept up to date, but that can confuse some people.