The GP appears to be the victim of received wisdom. After a disastrous spring last year, UK cases plummeted to less than 2000 a week by July (they're currently around 50,000 a week). But all that happened before masks were made mandatory. Now isn't that odd. Of course, we have many a siren voice at present claiming that the current spike is the result of mask-wearing being made voluntary in July. Considering the 2020 experience, you don't have to be Einstein to see that that connection simply doesn't stand up.