Freaking out is an exaggeration on your part. It's more bewilderment. At the school which relaxed the covid rules to include wearing masks outside. Yet when I picked up the kid from school, all kids wearing masks because no one wants to stand out. She wore her mask because the other kids did and they wear because all the adults working at the school wear masks.
I must admit it was a bit odd not wearing a mask in the US, even in the most liberal city around SF, eating at Pier 39, no masks.