Moscow and 18 other regions are in the throes of a flu epidemic, and young people should wear masks to prevent infection, the country's top health official said Tuesday, Interfax reported.
Over 80,000 cases of flu have been recorded in Moscow in the past week, more than half of them in children, chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko told reporters.
Incidences of flu in the capital are 9.8 percent above the epidemic level, he said, adding that anything below 10 percent is considered "tolerable."
Flu epidemics have also been declared in St. Petersburg and other regions, the hardest hit being the republic of Bashkortostan, where incidences of flu exceed epidemic levels by 61 percent.
Twenty-eight schools in 18 regions, affecting more than 5,400 pupils, remained closed for a fourth week to prevent transmission of the disease, he said.
Onishchenko encouraged young people, especially those working in food service and retail, to get used to the idea of wearing gauze masks.
"Mask-wearing is an element of human culture. Going to classical music concerts, to the Bolshoi Theater, that's also culture. Masks, too, are culture — a culture of health," he said.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
