CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — In a renewed effort to eradicate Ebola, Guinea’s president announced new restrictions on burials and warned of possible lockdowns in the country’s western region.
In an address on state television Saturday night, President Alpha Conde lamented that vigilance had flagged in the fight against Ebola and said emergency steps would be “reinforced†in five districts: Forecariah Coyah, Dubreka, Boffa and Kindia.
“I regret to note that there is an increasing abandon … of the precautions necessary to save the lives of our people,†Conde said.
West Africa’s Ebola outbreak has killed more than 10,000 people since it began more than a year ago. Most of the dead are from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The outbreak began in Guinea, where more than 2,200 people have died, according to the World Health Organization. A nationwide health emergency was declared last August.
There were 45 new cases in Guinea in the latest weekly report.
During the 45-day period, all burials in the affected areas will need to be secured by Red Cross or security forces, and all dead bodies will be systematically tested, Conde said. Mourning ceremonies will be restricted to close family.
The president also said lockdown measures could be implemented as needed, though he did not provide specifics.
Neighboring Sierra Leone was expected to end its second three-day lockdown on Sunday, an effort officials said could help the country get “total control†over Ebola.
Residents of southwest Guinea have complained that a large influx of Sierra Leoneans crossed the border to evade the lockdown, prompting Guinea to deploy police to the region to secure the area and stave off violence.
- CONAKRY, Guinea
- Ebola outbreak
- Alpha Conde