I think masks do help slow the spread but they are not 100% fool proof. In Houston in June we had outrageous daily new cases, Gov. Abbott issued a state wide mask mandate and my wifes hospital went from 70+ cases to around 10 by mid July. I do not believe that is coincidence. I think the rise we see now has more to do with people not social distancing anymore and a lot of people just flat out refusing to wear masks. People are tired of this crap and it shows. Even if everyone wears a mask, if people stop social distancing cases are bound to go up because masks are not 100% effective but they are more effective than no mask. And the mask mandates are not designed to protect people not wearing a mask, the idea is to protect people from the asymptomatic carrier who is wearing a mask. Clothe masks are pretty ineffective in preventing the wearer from contracting the virus, they much more effective at preventing the sick person from spreading the virus. Same reason we are taught to cover our face when we sneeze or cough. This issue is full of gray. I just want to be able to hang out with my friends and not have to do 2 week quarantine to go to work.