CAT/C/70/2 (d) Communication with families and friends through appropriate means should be encouraged and facilitated; (e) Since quarantine facilities are a de facto form of deprivation of liberty, all those so held should be able to benefit from the fundamental safeguards against ill-treatment, including information of the reasons for their being quarantined, the right of access to independent medical advice, the right to legal assistance and the right to ensure that third parties are notified of their being in quarantine, in a manner consonant with their status and situation; (f) All appropriate measures must be taken to ensure that those who are, or have been, in quarantine do not suffer from any form of marginalization or discrimination, including once they have returned to the community; (g) Appropriate psychological support should be available for those who need it, both during and after their period of quarantine. IV. Measures to be taken by national preventive mechanisms 11. National preventive mechanisms should continue exercising their visiting mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the manner in which they do so must take into account the legitimate restrictions currently imposed on social contact. National preventive mechanisms cannot be completely denied access to official places of detention, including places of quarantine, even if temporary restrictions are permissible in accordance with article 14 (2) of the Optional Protocol. 12. The objective of the Optional Protocol, as set out in article 1, is to establish a system of regular visits, whereas the purpose, as set out in the preamble, is the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, this being a non-derogable obligation under international law. In the current context, this suggests that it is incumbent on national preventive mechanisms to devise methods for fulfilling their preventive mandate in relation to places of detention that minimize the need for social contact but that nevertheless offer effective opportunities for preventive engagement. 13. Such measures might include: (a) Discussing the implementation and operation of the measures outlined in sections II and III above with relevant national authorities; (b) Increasing the collection and scrutiny of individual and collective data relating to places of detention; (c) Using electronic forms of communication with those in places of detention; (d) Establishing national prevention mechanism hotlines within places of detention, and providing secure email access and postal facilities; (e) Tracking the setting up of new and temporary places of detention; (f) Enhancing the distribution of information concerning the work of the national preventive mechanism within places of detention, and ensuring there are channels allowing prompt and confidential communication; (g) Seeking to contact third parties (e.g., families and lawyers) who may be able to provide additional information concerning the situation within places of detention; (h) Enhancing cooperation with non-governmental organizations and relief organizations working with those deprived of their liberty. V. Conclusion 14. It is not possible to accurately predict how long the current pandemic will last, or what its full effects will be. What is clear is that it is already having a profound effect on all 14