I think (and I may be wrong here) but aerosolisation refers to something different than “droplets”. Droplets are bigger particles that fall to the ground quite quickly (hence 2m). Aerosols refer to something much smaller and the consensus was that these were not significant in transmission.

See also early refusal by public health authorities to recommend face masks.

I dont think so. Hence many of the early missteps in the COVID response (2m distancing etc).

Isn’t the point here a bigger one about particle vs aerosol transmission of respiratory viruses?