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Mask mandates are in place in and as these states continue to see COVID cases in the community. And have argued face masks will continue to be an important measure in our fight against the virus for some time to come.

Evidence shows at of COVID-19 in the community.

However, masks won't always be compulsory, particularly outside outbreak situations. In most Australian states and territories at present, masks are not mandatory but are recommended , such as where physical distancing is difficult.

But moving forward—as more people get vaccinated and outbreaks hopefully become fewer and smaller—is mask use likely to stick?

Leaving it up to the public

In recent weeks, we've seen announcements from the and that they're shifting their approach to COVID-19 restrictions, moving to a new way of "living with the virus."

In the UK, along with the reopening of all businesses, and lifting of attendance caps at events, social distancing and mask wearing will become matters of personal responsibility.

Select authorities may still require people to wear masks in certain settings, such as in hospitals or on public transport. For example, masks on London's public transport network.

But , the national legal requirement to wear a face covering in shops, on public transport and in other enclosed spaces will end.

In Singapore and the UK, the governments have noted will be part of the solution.

Authorities hope that even without mandates, people will continue to wear masks , such as crowded and enclosed spaces.

Will discretionary mask use work?

While we know mandates substantially, the decision to wear a mask is beyond whether or not there are penalties in place for non-compliance. A person's age, level of income, where they live and cultural norms can all play a role.

A to prevent respiratory infections, conducted before COVID-19, found people are more likely to wear a mask when they feel at increased risk of infection, or when they think the outcome of getting sick is severe.

Wearing a mask is also motivated by a shared sense of responsibility and by perceived social norms (those unwritten rules or beliefs we consider acceptable in our community). We often take cues from people we're close to, especially in uncertain times.

found perceived pressure from different avenues including employers, mass media, government and family can all play a role in increasing mask use.

It's difficult to know whether as countries move away from mandates, and leave it up to individuals, we're likely to see ongoing mask use in the community.

But it's worth looking to the Asian experience. Some Asian countries have a longer history of wearing masks, both for protection against pollution and for protection against infection, especially in 2003.

In after the outbreak, the proportion of people who reported wearing a mask when experiencing flu-like symptoms declined sharply from 74% in June 2003 to 39% in September 2003. But self-reported health-related behaviors, including mask use, were still much greater in the period after SARS compared to before it.

Researchers tracking these trends noted that in the face of SARS, people in Hong Kong came to accept mask use as part of their "".

One looking at photographs of settings such as grocery stores and markets in six different countries in early 2020 mapped huge variations in mask use. This ranged from a high of 97% in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (in Asia) through to 4% in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In some of these countries the level of mask use may have been influenced by government recommendations or mandates in place at the time.

There is an element of doubt as to whether masks will continue to be used in countries with more individualist cultures such as the US and Australia ("I often do my own thing"), as opposed to like those found more often in Asia ("My happiness depends very much on the happiness of those around me").

Vaccination status could also affect mask use in the community. People who are vaccinated against COVID-19—as in countries like the UK and Singapore—may be less inclined to wear a mask, compared to those who are unvaccinated.

The new normal?

If we're trying to shift the social norm around masks, and encourage their ongoing use (without mandates), it's important we evolve our messaging. This includes relevant reminders around times when masks would be most beneficial, such as:

• encouraging people to put a mask on straight away if they're out in public and start to feel unwell
• encouraging mask use in higher-risk locations such as on public transport and especially when visiting people in aged care and hospitals.

Continuing to frame as a social behavior is critical. We don't send our kids to school with peanut butter sandwiches in case there's someone with an allergy. Likewise, wearing a mask is a simple action we can take to protect those who may be vulnerable.

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