it's about what real people in the real word actually do

Here we go again.

LIFE AIN'T BLOODY BINARY.

Masks are a percentage shot. We have laws about cars and speeds, which are flouted. But at least there are enough sensible people to make the percentages work for you. Car speeds or masks. And just like cars & laws, it is not about one methodology, it is about simple, doable, multiple, policeable procedures. And the percentages. They can get the R number below 1.0

FWIW UK deaths have stabalised from about 25 days ago and more recently are falling slowly. Though the accounting probably has changed to ignoring any deaths past 28 days since recovery, so there is less confidence in recent trends. And the better availability of masks will have played a part, given that deaths lag cases.