Let me explain it again; the article is about medical supplies expiring. All you are talking about is PPE even though it’s not what the article is talking about. Go back and read it again.

> People worked in the same masks and other PPE for weeks because they couldn’t get replacements.

Yes I was one of them on the front lines. It’s not advisable but it was all we had, there wasn’t good data on how well protection lasted after more than 10 hours of use which is why they were replaced regularly under normal conditions. We made do by adding layers like a surgical mask on top of the n95.

> Everything that has an expiration date is starting to expire, but why would you get rid of it before it is?

Because we don’t like putting stuff about to imminently expire on the shelf next to stuff that won’t; people grab the wrong one too often. That’s partly why CVS won’t keep any prescription meds on their shelves that will expire in less than 2 months, to avoid them getting mixed in and sold with pills that won’t expire for longer.