Coronavirus: Ivory Coast reopens schools after months of shutdown

Ivory Coast has become one of the first African countries to reopen schools to allow children in for lessons after months of shutdown.

On Monday thousands of children were seen in face masks flocking back to school for the restart of lessons.

The schools were shut for two months to stop the spread of coronavirus and despite the country recording over 2,376 cases of the virus, schools have now reopened.

School officials say they are confident pupils can study together in safety after the introduction of extra hygiene measures.

Children are expected to wash their hands under teachers’ watchful eye before entering their schools.

They also sit just one to a desk with bottles of sanitizing gel within reach.

A teacher told Reuters that “We’re a bit worried as we leave because we don’t know if we have the coronavirus or not or if the children are contaminated or not.”

Meanwhile, an official from the Ivorian education ministry, Assoumou Kabran is also quoted by Reuters as saying that “We also have an imperative duty to ensure that the children entrusted to us can complete their education.” There are indications countries within West Africa could also follow suit as some of them including Ghana are discussing how safe it would be to reopen schools.