The reality is the pandemic fear mongers won't cite fataility rates for groups like 5 year olds, because the data doesn't support steps taken.
They won't cite data about N95 use because N95's DO work, and if we just let people who wanted to / were at risk wear N95's we'd solve half the problem right there without burdening anyone else. And yes, N95's with a vent are fine and should be encouraged because they make mask wearing a LOT easier.
Instead we are just fed endless BS. Citing the CDC and WHO is pointless because their stuff was not actually grounded in science but in BS. Witness their loud announcements that travel restrictions (time honored method to reduce spread) was racist and wouldn't reduce spread. Or that masks don't work etc. You have an airbone disease, masks probably help. You have a transmittable disease, reducing travel may help.
I think we can be a little less confrontational in the discussion. I also believe that it helps not to impute bad intentions to the other side, but to assume that they make mistakes (like every side), but also try to achieve the best possible outcome under the given circumstances and knowledge at the time.
Especially during Corona I think you have to distinguish clearly between politics and science. Science has the great advantage that it does not have to deal with feasibility. It can call out what works best (after appropriate studies have been done with good study design). Does science make mistakes? Sure. Still it is the best methodology we have. Does politics make mistakes. Oh - absolutely. Also probably some politicians wet their pants in regards to the power trip they had. Still - I think the majority tried to do the best they could.
However, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of what we know today was yet unknown. So a lot of decisions were necessarily wrong in hindsight. but right under the given circumstances and the goals of the people involved.
Was it known that N95 masks (very likely) help? Yes. Were there enough N95 masks available for everybody? Probably not.
When I look at how toilet paper was hoarded in Germany at the beginning of the pandemic and how there was almost nowhere to get toilet paper, the political action was not so stupid. Because N95 masks would have been off the shelves in minutes.
So letting people wear any masks (at least they help a little bit) and let as many people as possible stay at home as much as possible and in public only gather at an appropriate distance. Not too bad an idea when dealing with too few effective masks as a limitation imho.
When enough masks were available, the requirements for masks were tightened (although not enough, in my personal opinion). But again: I know a lot of people who think wearing masks is important, but have a hard time wearing N95/FFP2 but are fine with surgical masks due to for example panic attacks. The fact that currently quite a few public places like universities demand FFP2/N95 to be worn permanently makes for a bad situation for these people as they can't partake in their courses under this regime. While nearly all over Germany mask mandates fell yesterday.
Also taking into account possible long-term consequences of a Covid disease for children (or anyone), it was unclear for a long time (and partly still today) whether there is/was a corresponding danger. Therefore, one can also see appropriate measures here as a balancing of protection of society vs. individual liberties.
And that people are not the best at acting rationally in groups (sorry - but I have become very cynical and misanthropic during Corona) and to act reasonably in the masses we see again and again. Without coercion, most people (in groups) do not behave sensibly.
They won't cite data about N95 use because N95's DO work, and if we just let people who wanted to / were at risk wear N95's we'd solve half the problem right there without burdening anyone else. And yes, N95's with a vent are fine and should be encouraged because they make mask wearing a LOT easier.
Instead we are just fed endless BS. Citing the CDC and WHO is pointless because their stuff was not actually grounded in science but in BS. Witness their loud announcements that travel restrictions (time honored method to reduce spread) was racist and wouldn't reduce spread. Or that masks don't work etc. You have an airbone disease, masks probably help. You have a transmittable disease, reducing travel may help.