<begin rant> As the spouse of a physician who personally deals with covid patients every working day since February, I am a bit more strongly biased in my thinking since she is truly a "front-line worker".
First, scientifically, masks (other than N-95 or N-100 masks) do NOT stop you from getting the virus. All masks (from N-100 to a mask-less face shield) do NOT prevent you from giving the virus (assuming you have it) but DO reduce the chances of you spreading the virus (again, assuming you have it). So even if a cloth mask, bandana, "surgical mask", only reduces a measly 10%, that is potentially 10% less people who obtain the virus, 10% less hospitalized, and 10% less die from. Ten percent is probably a conservative figure as no study has yet to pinpoint the effectiveness (too hard to do in a non-controlled study) but the thinking is around 35%-40%.
Therefore, to me, it is worth the hassles of wearing a mask in order to save lives. Even if we could have just 1% fewer deaths, that would be 4,250 (as of today) fewer deaths just in the USA if all people would just wear the mask.
So my point is wear the damn mask and quit bitching about. I am saying this to everyone and no one in particular so don't get riled up thinking I am speaking about you personally (talking to you Neil over at CGOAB).
To me, a more important question is when should we be able to stop wearing the masks? Is it after all those that want to be vaccinated are vaccinated (even though those that refuse are still vulnerable)? Is when the virus is entirely gone so the un-vaccinated don't get sick, even if they refused a shot? When the politicians on both sides think there is nothing left to gain by being for/against masks and both side actually follow the science instead of what sounds good? Is it a set date, ramifications be damned? If you have been vaccinated, should you be able to be mask-free? Should you have a "scarlet letter" to show you have or have not been vaccinated? What about traveling after you are vaccinated? Can the government shut down business that offer services only to those vaccinated or is that discrimination?
So just saying we are to wear a mask in Yellowstone really doesn't cut it for me.
Thanks China for giving the world this headache. <end rant; go ride>