When encountering people around town (maskless) I maintain distance between myself and them. There have been mixed messages from health "experts" on COVID guidelines so I think people have reason to be cynical every time they are told to do something by said experts. I wear a mask out of consideration for others, not because I think masks are that effective.
Since COVID-19 is a brand new virus it is not unexpected that guidelines on what works may change during this initial period. Very good strides are being made with regards to the disease, both in terms of understanding how it is spread and how to treat it. One of the newer lines of thought, based upon new studies, is that wearing masks in public may be the most effective way of preventing spread of the disease outside of, and possibly including social distancing. If correct, this information will support continued economic activity while controlling the spread of the disease, assuming that people wear masks in public.
Since this evidence is based upon studies of areas where the disease is prevalent, it is impossible to expect that these sorts of studies and the conclusions from them could come out before now. When this started my doctor did not believe that wearing masks was particularly important. Now, based on newer information, he is a firm believer in wearing them when around people other than his immediate family.
Meanwhile the number of new infections in states which have opened up sooner and where there is less emphasis on mask wearing is increasing. New highs in infections since the start of the pandemic were hit in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina today. Texas had the second highest number of new infections in one day. (source, Washington Post) California also has increasing cases, although not a record number of new infections today.