First of all, Covid is still around as a friend just contracted it. He's vaccinated and fine. I think what you are seeing often is not fear but a new form of politeness when people have a cold or a cough and on the other hand some like the feeling of not breathing in other's droplets. Call it the Chinification of America since they do it all the time. Germaphobia has been with us forever and now masks make those folks feel safer. I personally have learned not to care what others decide to do when it has no negative impact on me. I don't wear them outside myself. That's silly.