Masks in theatre are quite different! That’s a clinical setting.
The reason there wasn’t enough PPE… complex but, we would all moan if they spent millions or even billions on huge amounts of PPE, which must be thrown out after a certain time, just in case. That’s really the problem. If they stockpile in the numbers needed for a pandemic at all times, we simply couldn’t afford to do so… but if they don’t, when we need it, it’s a big problem. These decisions are so difficult. I’m glad I don’t have to make them.