Hmm... I think people are misunderstanding what he said because he's been misquoted so much recently. In the beginning he advised people to not buy up all the masks because he was fearing a shortage for the medical staff who really need it. Also, wearing a mask does not protect you from getting Covid-19, it only helps preventing to spread it if you already have it. And in the beginning we didn't know people could have and spread the disease without showing symptoms. As soon as we found that out he told everyone to wear masks - if possible not the one time use medical ones, as they're still needed in hospitals, but to buy a reusable one or make it yourself. I think that was the right thing to say both times.