Monrovia, January 6 (RHC)-- The Liberian government is set to reopen schools in February, six months after they were shut due to an Ebola outbreak in the West African country. "We ask all schools to take the necessary measures for the reopening of schools next semester, which is February," the Education ministry said in a statement on Monday.

On July 30, 2014, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ordered all schools to close down in an attempt to contain the epidemic. "All schools must be equipped with chlorine water, thermometers, and all have to put in place all measures recommended by the health ministry for the prevention of the virus," the ministry added.

Liberia, one of the three West African countries worst hit by the current Ebola outbreak, has noted a stable decrease in new cases over the last few weeks.

On Monday, the World Health Organization said that 8,153 people had died from 20,656 known cases of Ebola, with 3,471 deaths in Liberia, 2,915 in Sierra Leone, and 1,767 in Guinea.

Ebola is a form of hemorrhagic fever, whose symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, feces, or sweat. It can also spread through sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.