Rhode Island to stop daily calls to travelers from Liberia

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Rhode Island health officials say they’ll stop calling travelers coming to the state from Liberia each day to ask about Ebola symptoms.

The state Health Department director said in a letter to the Liberian community Friday that she wants travelers to monitor themselves for 21 days and contact the department if they develop symptoms.

The World Health Organization declared Liberia Ebola-free in early May.

Rhode Island has had no cases of Ebola, but the state is home to many Liberians.

Dr. Nicole E. Alexander-Scott, the Health Department director, says the agency will continue to monitor travelers from Guinea and Sierra Leone for symptoms for 21 days, until those countries are Ebola-free.          

Alexander-Scott says the department will also continue receiving lists of travelers returning from Liberia and contact each person once. 

© The Associated Press / WLNE-TV 2015