As the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world, a stark difference in attitudes is emerging between societies in Asia and in the West about the use of protective face masks. While mask-wearing has been an integral part of life in many places in Asia since the 2002-2003 Sars epidemic, in Western countries, there has been scepticism and aversion to the practice. But amid growing scientific evidence that masks may help in the battle against Covid-19, their use is now spreading in Western…