"In most of Europe masks were gone months ago"
It's not completely true.
Requirement to wear coverings in certain spaces dropped as part of government’s ‘Living with Covid’ strategy but increasingly advisable as cases rise
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-face-mask-rules-restrictions-b2140525.html
As Omicron variants of COVID-19 continue to fuel a rise in cases across Australia, there is renewed focus on masks as a simple way to prevent the spread of the virus.
It has led National Cabinet to strongly encourage the wearing of masks indoors, when appropriate, and authorities have warned Australia's current COVID-19 wave will likely peak in August.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-27/reusing-masks-covid-19-washing-cloth-surgical-n95-p2/101273926