Yes, but it's only gotten worse since then. In prior years, if they had a cold or bad allergies, people would wear masks. The problem is that people who were sick with a fever would wear a damned mask and go to work, infecting others. When Covid came along though. there was a zero tolerance for fevers. Workers and students alike were sent home as a result of the rigorous temperature checking. So, sick people could not wear a mask and infect others. Since sick people were sent home, illnesses were not being spread so much and people believed that it was due to the masks.

I went to the clinic yesterday to get some Chinese herbal decongestant and eye drops for my allergies, and for once I was not asked to wear a damned fearmask. I dunno about other places though, as I haven't been anywhere else lately other than to get my back X-rayed in March.