[steve B]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

CDC article from 2009...

https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm

I'll infer that didn't give a crap about the health of others and failed to wear a mask as recommended by the CDC.

Did you even read that? Specifically table 1 they refer to in the main text?
Persons who had no increased risk of serious illness did NOT have masks recommended.

Compared to Covid, during 2009-10 H1N1 was a minor leaguer. Totally unlike the version from 1918.
https://www.healthline.com/health/h1n1-vs-covid-19

Harder to catch, nearly always not much more than a bad cold.
The comparison isn't even close.