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1. International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.15 providing World Health Organization (WHO) information and guidance on the safe and effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support decisions on use of PPE to minimize the risks of COVID-19 infection for seafarers, marine personnel, fishing vessel personnel, passengers and others on board ships, as well as shore personnel intending to go on board (such as pilots, port workers, port State control officers, ship’s agents, etc.); and in their interaction with each other.

2. WHO experts agree that a risk-based approach to decision-making should be adopted on the use of PPE and masks by following advice outlined in WHOʹs:

   1. Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19, in particular in the following sections:

      1. Advice to decision makers on the use of masks for healthy people; and

      2. Mask management, in particular for appropriate use and disposal of masks.

   2. Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages for PPE, e.g. gloves.

3. The Circular provides link to access general information and related guidance on the use of PPE recommendations by WHO in the context of COVID-19.

4. Ship Owners/ Operators and masters are advised to be guided by the attached IMO Circular Letter.

Enclosure: 

• IMO Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.15, dated 06 May 2020

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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