SOFIA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's Health Ministry announced on Monday that Varna District, the country's third most populous, has become the first to impose temporary anti-epidemic measures due to spreading influenza and acute respiratory diseases.
The ministry, in a press release, said the decision was prompted by a rise in the registered incidence rate, which reached 239.38 per 10,000 people.
Thus, for the period from Jan. 14 to Jan. 20, temporary anti-epidemic measures were introduced in the district, such as the suspension of the in-person learning process in all schools, as well as the holding of group activities organized by schools.
Visits to patients in hospitals, as well as in specialized institutions for the provision of social services and residential social services for children and adults, were also suspended, the ministry said.
Preventive medical examinations, mandatory immunizations and re-immunizations were also temporarily suspended, the ministry said, adding that the introduced anti-epidemic measures could be changed depending on the development of the epidemic situation in the district.
The ministry also reminded the public to wear masks in indoor public areas, including transport, medical facilities, and shops, when flu and respiratory infections are rising.
