We don’t have a culture of wearing masks in Europe. We largely escaped the epidemics that scarred Asia and made them a common sight in public there.
And then came COVID-19. At first, we didn’t have enough masks. We were advised not to use them unless we were sick or looking after someone who was.
Now they're mandatory across much of Europe. In France, the country that banned face coverings 10 years ago, masks must be worn on all public transport.