Highlights
As of 1 February 2015, the cumulative number of laboratory confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases is 8,059. The number of confirmed deaths is 2,910. Total Survived and discharged cases is 2,181.
The Minister of Education, Science and Technology presented the plan to re-open schools. The plan suggests the minimum requirements for educational institutions to re-commence operations namely, that; (i) institutions are safe for students and staff to enter and use; (ii) early detection and isolation of students/staff infected with the Ebola virus is in place; (iii) designated staff within institutions must be able to use thermometers/sensors to identify students/staff that could be infected with the Ebola virus; (iv) arrangements are in place to encourage students to return to school when re-opening takes place; and (v) psychosocial support is available for students and staff. Schools are likely to re-open by the end of March 2015.
In the effort to focus on the next phase of the response, UNICEF, SMAC, UNMEER, NERC, hosted a ‘Social Mobilization Implementing Partners Forum’ building on social mobilization achievements throughout the response and to agree on a way forward. The forum emphasized the need for coordination, clear operational structures, roles and accountabilities of partners involved in community engagement, and the need to intensify agreed messages.
As of 30th January 2015, 4,423 UNFPA contact tracers in eleven out of fourteen districts are active and following up contacts. A cumulative total of 78,166 contacts were monitored of whom 68,949 had finished their 21 day follow up, while 9,077 contacts were outstanding. Bonthe, Kailahun and Pujehun districts did not have any contacts to follow. Between 25 and 30 January 2015, 2,429 new contacts were added; and 2,349 finished their 21 days' of follow up, while 48 contacts were reported ill. District Contact Tracing Monitors were investigating 33 contacts not seen in previous 24 hours, to establish cause and their whereabouts.
The Government of Sierra Leone through the National Ebola Response Centre (NERC), and with support from UNDP and UNMEER, launched a national exercise to implement the revised Hazard Policy aimed at re-classifying Ebola Response Workers (ERWs) based on real risks and further ensuring fiduciary sustainability and compliance. This exercise will establish a clear baseline of workers who are part of the Ebola response and help move forward in line with the national plan and the hazard policy, re-purposing and classification of workers. Biometric verification of ERWs commenced on January 26, 2015 in Western Area. As of February 1, 2015, approximately 10,000 ERWs were verified, with several fraudulent ERWs in the Western Area reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission.