The mask mandate was only a reason to cover for the real intentions. Which are multiple and not limited to what i say here, as I'm sure many of can think of other reasons and they would be just as valid as they tend to do it for multiple agendas at once. One is to divide and show a clear political line, Democrats with mask Republicans without, several opinion articles give it away as those are basically made to frame what their intentions are as good. Another is so rioters and looters and thieves who can get away with stealing under a certain amount can have a reason to hide their face as they commit crimes with a massive social excuse that is the fake covid public health crisis when the norm is to not allow face coverings in stores to deter thieves. Also it is because it is bad for you to breath your own breath and can breathing problems and respiratory illness, a symptom of covid that they can use to help a fame diagnosis with 97% positive pcr testing. Feel free to add on as I'm sure this is only part of it, like the slavery mask of silence and they make it harder to understand eachother while they tell us not to talk to eachother openly now. So many layers, like shrek eating an onion.