The government is bracing for the arrival of a "twindemic" — the concurrent spread of influenza and the coronavirus — following recent reports of flu outbreaks, which have emerged at the same time as the suspected arrival of an eighth COVID-19 wave.
In the week through Nov. 6, 270 flu cases were reported by clinics participating in a nationwide influenza surveillance program, according to health ministry statistics released Friday. The tally compares with 23 cases reported in the same period last year.
Though still small in scale, flu outbreaks have also started hitting elementary and junior high schools, with temporary closures of three schools and two classes reported the same week.