At the very least, mask mandates have not changed the path of the pandemic or waves. For example, over the omicron wave both Texas and California took a similar path with cases, but California averaged more daily cases per million people. California implemented a mask mandate on December 15th while Texas did not. Yet, same wave path, with California coming out slightly worse. So maybe at a micro level, that one person who chose to wear N95 mask did not get omicron, but in the grand scheme of things...mask mandates...nada...same outcome
With optional masking, that one person who chose to wear the N95 can still do so.