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Based on my experience living in a "red state" in the USA, it really doesn't take that level of sanction. People almost universally wore masks in grocery stores here when: a) it was a state mandate/law and b) the asshole state politicians kept their mouths shut about it. Prior to the state mandate there was a patchwork of business and local health dept mandates that were far less well observed. Then subsequently (when the governor changed from Dem to GOP) the politicians realized they could score points with the "not gona do it" crowd by criticizing mask wearing and we went back to nobody wearing masks. And finally, delta variant seems to have scared a significant cohort into voluntary mask wearing.

> We're talking wearing a mask and saving lives

This study doesn’t show that - it shows a slower rate of transmission, but without vaccination, the long term infection rate will ultimately be the same.

> We're talking wearing a mask and saving lives.

What if they don't want your input in their lives?

Let's conduct a thought-experiment.

Would most people be cooperating with the health and safety protocols if there was an outbreak of Ebola?