Due to a steep rise in flu cases over the past few weeks, the Health Ministry said Tuesday it recommends that at-risk people, medical staff and visitors to geriatric institutions wear protective face masks.

The ministry said that as of December 7, there have been 513 new cases of influenza A and one case of Influenza B, based on reports from 14 hospitals.

So far, 633 kids have been hospitalized with the flu this month, 35 in intensive care. Some 900 adults have been hospitalized with the flu in the same time, 36 in intensive care.

Over the past three weeks, four children have died from the flu, three of whom were unvaccinated and had no underlying conditions, and one, vaccinated, who had an underlying condition. In comparison, a total of four........

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