You know the "day one" messaging was because they didn't know how exactly it was transmitted in most cases, right? Not because they were intentionally lying.
The paper surgical masks were still better then nothing and there simply weren't enough n95 masks to go around.
Besides, many people were not being infected from breathing it in. They were infected from droplets being unintentionally spat in their eyes. Eye protection was also recommended, which is probably how I avoided ever catching it.
The surgical masks would still prevent the wearer from spreading it to other people because it would stop spit.