Guinea reopens schools as Ebola infections slow substantially

Guinea Monday reopened its schools, which had been closed for the past 10 months due to an Ebola outbreak that killed more than 8,400 people across West Africa, dpa reported.
The government decided to recommence schooling after the number of new infections slowed substantially in the West African nation and a national Ebola commission published security guidelines designed to protect children and teenagers from infection.
All public schools will receive hand sanitizers and thermometres, said commissioner Sakota Keita, while the parents of private school children will have to supply the materials themselves.
In Guinea alone, 2,806 people were infected with Ebola, of whom 1,814 died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Neighbouring Liberia, the country hardest hit by the epidemic, with more than 3,500 deaths, is planning to reopen schools in February, according to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's government. However, no date has been set.
Mali was meanwhile declared free of Ebola by its national health department and the WHO late on Sunday, 42 days after the last suspected patient tested negative. Mali reported eight Ebola infections and six deaths.