I think the biggest failure wasn't the CDC being wrong at first, it was society not being receptive to changes. It's impossible to be correct every single time. The only thing they can do is say what they know so far.

Nope, that was not it: the definition of droplet was f'd up. It is corrected now. https://www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwu...

...that article says exactly what I said. The CDC was initially wrong, and after some good science and convincing, they changed their stance.

That's how science works... and numbers like 5 microns which have been ingrained for a while take some real work to change.

What exactly is wrong with my statement?

YES, they did.

The definition of droplet/airborne was wrong and it took a very long time to correct it.

https://www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwu...