to prevent and manage COVID-19. Especially in the conditions where COVID-19 cases were reported in the establishments. According to the information provided by the Special Penitentiary Service, the planned PCR testing of the accused/convicts placed in the penitentiary institutions started on December 31, 2020.110 Initially, testing was conducted in N5 and N11 facilities, then tests were conducted in other facilities as well as with inmates in the civil sector hospital. Based on these tests, Covid-19 was identified in a number of inmates. It is important that the special penitentiary service continue the planned PCR testing of prisoners in the penitentiary institutions in order to detect cases of infection in a timely manner. During the visits, personal protective equipment was used by those employees who entered the facility from outside.111 While staff on a barracks regime did not use personal protective equipment as these individuals were quarantined before entering the facility, tested for Covid-19, and no longer posing a risk of spreading the virus. Prisoners were provided with medical masks during their removal from the facility and/or during meetings with other persons in the facility. Prisoners were not provided with personal protective equipment while moving on the premises of the institutions. Besides, they do not have the opportunity to purchase disinfectants and personal protective equipment. As for informing about the measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, unfortunately, the prisoners did not receive any information about it during their stay in the facilities. There were no information posters about Covid-19 in the living areas of the prisoners. They received such information on television. The Public Defender of Georgia considers it important that the administration of the establishments take steps to raise awareness on the issues of infection control of prisoners. The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture also points out the need to provide and inform prisoners with individual means of protection.112 In order to meet the requirements of infection control, it is important to ensure a good sanitary-hygienic condition in the establishments. This issue is relevant not only in terms of the spread of the new coronavirus, but also for the prevention of any other contagious disease in general. According to the employees of the establishments, after the insertion of special conditions, special disinfection is carried out in the facilities. According to the staff of the establishments, if the prisoners refuse to let the staff carry out the relevant work in the cell, then the cell is not disinfected. The practice of general cleaning of cells and other spaces in penitentiary institutions has not changed. The cells are arranged by the prisoners themselves, and the common areas are cleaned convicts employed in the industrial sector. From Epidemiological point of view it is challenging that large penitentiary establishments have multiplepersons cells113 and physical distancing as well as adequate sanitation is impossible. Most of the inmates For the full information see the link https://bit.ly/2XFw9Bd [Last visited: 14.01.2021] For example, medical staff who were not permanently present in the facility. 112 Recommendations of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture to the States Parties and National Prevention Mechanisms on Coronavirus Pandemic (adopted March 25, 2020), subparagraphs (a) and (m) of paragraph 9. An unofficial translation is available at: see the link <https://bit.ly/3p0womA> [last visited: 02.02.2021]. 113 There are 10 persons cells in N2 and N8 facilities, and in N17 facility the number of convicts in the cells exceeds two dozen. In addition, the number of inmates in facilities N8 and N15 exceeded the facility limit, leading to overcrowding. 110 111 50