1. you haven't seen the end yet. precedent now makes it open game for them to make it a yearly thing for Flu season.
2. it will last as long as people keep voting for leaders who endorse it. It really should be a wedge issue, mask vs no mask mandates. If they say "we won't make you wear a mask", that should be a HUGE point to someone to vote for them

Now that there are niche markets popping up with designer masks it's now being normalized. Just look at commercials now. Even retail stores are featuring people in masks in commercials even if the commercial isn't specifically about their "cleanliness procedures". Even if it doesn't mention the virus at all. Just a normal commercial about their product, they show clips of mothers sending their kids to the school bus in masks, or kids going to school and wearing masks with their teachers wearing one too, crap they have in the schools telling the kids to keep distance and all that. Kids should not be learning this crap. It should be taught to them that they're being made to wear these things because of ignorant leaders making them. It should not be taught to them that it's in any way normal to come to school in a mask, have a plexiglas box around your desk or that you're not allowed to congregate with your friends at recess.