Are you American by chance? This is also anecdotal, but on the internet I'm seeing wearing a masks considered "such large-scale changes to people behaviour" mostly from American commenters. In Asia they just do it, in Europe we just do it (and I live in maybe the most government-hostile country in Europe).

> in Europe we just do it

Maybe in some European countries. The Dutch public health authorities are very skeptical about the usefulness of masks and continue to resist a mask requirement except in places where distancing is impossible (like public transport).

Mandating face coverings for everyone who leaves their house is a large-scale change. No, I am not American. I'm also now not really European, so that should tell you where I am ;)

Edit: I decided to clarify why I think it is a large-scale change. I cannot think of any other action we are actively obliged to do by law, except for possibly covering gentials, when leaving our own house/property. Introducing any such obligitory action is, in my opinion, a large-scale change in mandated behaviour.

> No, I am not American. I'm also now not really European, so that should tell you where I am ;)

i am probably missing something obvious but no, there are plenty of places that are not america or Europe.

> I'm also now not really European

It was a light-hearted comment about a country that was part of Europe and now isn't.

Tell me you mean EU, or enlighten me which country is no longer part of Europe?

Where in Europe we do it? Most of the countries agree the evidence is rather weak, I wouldn't do such broad generalizations about Europe. No masks in Finland where in at, neither in Estonia or Latvia that I visited.