The Protective Mask is a tool added only with the 112 Operator Pandemic Outbreak DLC. It can be carried by any type of crewmember, reducing their chance of being infected with COVID when resolving incidents involving the general population by a small amount. The Protective Mask can be placed in either the left or right tool slot (but not both), and costs €100 to purchase as part of any gear set.
The Protective Mask provides its user with +0.15 Anti-Infection Protection. Though it is unclear exactly when the game tests for infection, the mask appears to reduce the chance by 15% whenever that happens. The current working assumption is that an emergency worker is tested for infection each time they select a suspect or injured person as their target at an incident site. The more people there are to be dealt with at an incident site, the more times the emergency worker must roll to test for infection, and thus the more likely they are to get infected. If this is true, the Protective Mask reduces the chance by 15% on each and every roll.
The Anti-Infection Protection bonus from a Protective Mask is not mutually exclusive with the bonus from a Protective Uniform or Hazmat Suit. When worn together with either of these, both items seem to decrease the chance of infection, though the exact mechanism is unclear. It is still possible for emergency workers to become infected even when wearing both a suit and a mask, though the chance is very low. Consider equipping workers with both items simultaneously, money permitting.
All Anti-Infection Protection items are unlocked right after the first COVID outbreak duty; some emergency workers are likely to have already been infected before these items become available. Anti-Infection items are only required during the COVID outbreak; once the outbreak has passed, they serve no purpose.
Charity Masks[]
The Charity Masks DLC changes every character portrait in the game to be wearing a Protective Mask, unless wearing some other kind of gear that changes their portrait. This can be undone by uninstalling or deactivating the DLC.
While the all characters appear to be wearing masks, this is only a cosmetic change. Their Anti-Infection Protection is not increased unless they are actually equipped with masks as part of their gear set.
Portrait Glitch[]
The Protective Mask alters the appearance of the officer's portrait, obscuring the lower portion of their face. Due to a bug in the current version of the game (2nd Anniversary), the Protective Mask may become a permanent part of the officer's default portrait (when not wearing any other portrait-altering clothes). This can only be fixed by manually editing the save file.
Description[]
"Basic personal protection against virus infection. Used by all services. Reduces the chance of members having to quarantine."
Availability[]
Available only with the 112 Operator Pandemic Outbreak DLC.