While I know one of the popular phrases now is "do it for others", masks provide protection and filter air you breathe out and air you breathe in and if the mask doesn't I'm not sure how a mask could be effective at all other than the N95 masks with valves that release your air out unfiltered.

Humans are selfish and if you want more people to wear masks not sure that is the right approach to take. I would say help/save yourself, help/save your family and friends. People care more about themselves and the people they know and love.

Regarding Piggly Wiggly and other grocery & big box store workers, I was very concerned that the cashiers were going to be super spreaders of COVID when the pandemic hit. There was no mandated mask wearing for employees or customers and the stores were packed on a daily basis because it was the only place people could go. Given what we knew about COVID and the level of contagiousness, these cashiers were going to infect our entire communities. But, it never happened. Why?

My hypothesis is grocery store trips are too quick, the stores are big enough for everyone to social distance and people weren't having conversations so the box stores turned out not to be a major spreading threat. Now, with more indoor activities (restaurants/bars, gyms, etc) where people are talking in close proximity, young people tiring of quarantine and resuming their social life, vacations, etc, we are seeing the rise in cases all across the US even as more people are wearing face masks than ever before.