Medical leaders must embrace uncertainty, and medical journals should steer clear of any perception of dualities of interest. Impartiality is a must. Journal editors must not be perceived as favoring certain findings.
As for masks, if we want people to wear masks, and we do, the answer is not to promote flawe science. It is to use the tools of any good doctor: humility, empathy, and common sense.
The humility to tell people we don't know—exactly—how much masks slow the spread of the virus.
The empathy to say that we know that masks take away a lot of what makes us human.
The common sense to say that masks are not dangerous, and, because mask-wearing probably helps reduce viral spread, and it isn't forever, please, wear a mask—especially in confined indoor spaces.