Liberia is reopening its land border crossings shut down during the Ebola outbreak, a positive sign in a nation that was the epicenter of the deadly virus.
President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf also lifted a nationwide curfew imposed in August to
help combat the virus. Her orders, which go into effect Sunday, come the same week schools reopened after a five-month hiatus.
The
virus has killed about 9,365 people mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and
Liberia, according to the World Health Organization.
About 3,900 of the deaths have been in Liberia, which was so badly affected, it declared a shortage of body bags last year.
In
October, the World Health Organization said the number of new cases in
Liberia was declining, with fewer burials, plateauing lab confirmations
and less-cramped hospitals.
Declining numbers
In its most recent update, the WHO reported two new confirmed cases in Liberia for the week ending on February 15. In contrast, a total of 52 new cases were reported in Guinea while Sierra Leone had 74.
Liberia
closed its borders with Sierra Leone and Guinea in July in response to
the outbreak. Those borders will reopen Sunday, Johnson Sirleaf said.
Though the President expressed optimism, she warned against complacency.
"The ministry of health has been requested to ensure the adoption
and implementation of health protocols that will prevent the
importation of the virus through any of the crossing points," she said
in a statement. "Members of the joint security assigned at the borders
are mandated to work closely with the health authorities to ensure
adherence to the health protocols and safety at all times."
Ebola is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.
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