The case numbers are meaningless due to differences in testing rates. They don't tell us anything reliable about which strategy is more effective. The actual infection numbers are way higher because most people never get tested. The only numbers that are even somewhat comparable between countries are hospitalizations and deaths.

I checked the death rate and the same pattern arises.

Yes, Austria does, and it mandates FFP-2, which while not quite N95, is pretty close (roughly equivalent to the Korean KF94 standard - 94% filtering minimum, and they allow earloops and not just headbands, which generally fit a bit worse). Still lightyears better than cloth or a typical surgical.