Liberia delays school reopening

LIBERIA has delayed planned re-opening of schools, saying they are not yet fully prepared to prevent the spread of Ebola.

  The schools – closed in July – had been due to open today, but teaching will now begin on February 16.

  The BBC’s Mark Doyle says several schools he has seen are woefully unready to prevent Ebola infection.

  He says they are lacking chlorinated water for hand-washing and thermometers to check pupils don’t have fever.

  Some schools were used as Ebola treatment offices or holding centres, our correspondent adds.

  Liberia – alongside with its West African neighbours, Sierra Leone and Guinea – has been hardest hit by the outbreak of the deadly virus.

  In Liberia alone, more than 3,600 people have been killed.

  However, Liberia appears to be beating Ebola, as there now only five confirmed cases across the country.