CAT/OP/11 G. Information 21. Before any visit, the national preventive mechanism should have information on:13 (a) The pandemic situation in the country in general and in places of deprivation of liberty in particular, including the number of infections and trends; (b) The measures in place to restrict transmission in the country or region; (c) The measures in place in places of deprivation of liberty and screening measures upon entry in order to prepare and allow for unannounced visits. H. Focal point 22. The national preventive mechanism may wish to identify a COVID-19 focal point in each visiting team or for the national preventive mechanism as a whole. If possible, the person selected should have a medical background. The task of the focal point is to help the visiting team to be aware of how it is complying with the present protocol and guide the visiting team in its approach regarding protective measures and personal protective equipment for the visit in question. I. Meetings with the authorities 23. When there are no safe alternatives, preparatory meetings with the relevant authorities may be held online. Feedback to the authorities may also be given virtually, after the completion of the visit. J. Protective measures and personal protective equipment 24. Three levels of protective measures are available for the national preventive mechanism’s consideration. 25. Level 1 is the common approach and entails taking the general precautions recommended to prevent all people, including staff, visitors and detainees, from contracting and spreading the virus responsible for COVID-19 in places of deprivation of liberty. Levels 2 and 3 are used only in special circumstances. The use of personal protective equipment may be indicated in some cases. However, its use may affect the quality of the exchanges that national preventive mechanisms have during their visits. 1. Level 1: standard protection, barrier gestures 26. 2. The following measures are recommended for level 1: (a) Surgical mask; (b) Soap and water; (c) Sanitizing gel; (d) Physical distancing of 1.5 to 2 metres. Level 2: intermediate protection, barrier gestures and complementary personal protective equipment 27. The following measures are complementary to those listed in level 1 and are used by health-care and custodial staff and by national preventive mechanism members or others dealing directly with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 with whom they come into close contact (a distance of less than 1 metre): (a) 13 4 FFP2 mask; “Guidance: monitoring places of detention through the COVID-19 pandemic”.