OPEN RESEARCH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS COVID-19 related 1. Generally, it is key to put the needs of the persons concerned at the centre of any measure taken to prevent the spread of a pandemic in closed institutions. Therefore, the restrictions should be regularly checked for their continued necessity and proportionality by relying on the scientific state-of-art (e.g. WHO checklist) and regulations that also affect the general public as a point of reference. In addition, measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the regulations should be put in place. 2. Persons concerned should be prioritized for vaccination due to their vulnerable situation and be included in the high priority groups. It should be assessed on how far vaccinated persons can be exempted from restrictions. 3. In addition, testing would allow for relaxations (e.g. day and long-term leaves) to continue, at least to some extent. Further, whenever appropriate, rehabilitative measures that can take place within the facility, such as social skills training or psycho-educational groups, should be pulled forward to prevent a delay in the conditional release. The halt of relaxations should not be to the detriment of persons concerned, and it should be assessed which relaxations steps are absolutely necessary for conditional release. 4. Video conferencing should neither be used for main and annual hearings or hearings on the conditional release of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities nor their assessment by expert witnesses. Instead, this technology should only be used for minor clarifications and exchanges. 5. Visits should be enabled by using safety measures and complemented by online alternatives. In addition, persons concerned with little income should be supported financially, or phone calls should be free of charge in general. It is recommendable to maintain the option of video calls and secured mobiles to contact relatives even after the pandemic since they offer some opportunities that personal visits lack (e.g. seeing relatives abroad, more relatives at once or familiar environments). By no means should video calls substitute personal visits against the will of the persons concerned. 6. Video calls should not only be offered in theory but also in practice. This means that facilities need to provide sufficient devices, adequate 18