The memory holed knowledge of presymptomatic and asymptomatic spread of infectious diseases.

My mother warned me back in the 70s that people can spread viruses they have before they get symptoms. Why is this suddenly forgotten knowledge among some doctors and scientists? I saw a sign at a healthcare provider saying “if you have symptoms please wear a mask to prevent spread of viruses.” They surely were told about this as children, in school, and the evidence in the pandemic has made it quite clear that this happens. And when I say evidence I mean scientific evidence and anecdotal evidence for 4 years straight, if not a lifetime. Did everyone get amnesia or something to memory hole this basic common knowledge?