Minister of Health Karl Landsteiner wearily reported to Ferdinand, "Your Majesty, these are the latest patient figures we have compiled. As of now, the total number of influenza infections in Bulgaria has surpassed 300,000, with the death toll currently at 4,852.
Since entering December, the number of influenza patients has dropped sharply, and many have returned to normal. However, for safety's sake, recovered patients are still under observation and have not yet returned to society!"
Ferdinand nodded. This figure was already quite good; compared to other countries around the world, it was nothing short of a miracle!
He said with concern, "You've worked hard. Go get some rest first! This winter, everyone can finally catch their breath. This season is unfavorable for the virus's spread, but when spring comes next year, there will still be a hard battle to fight!"
Karl Landsteiner replied weakly, "Yes!"
Clearly, the recent epidemic-prevention work had kept him run ragged. Ever since the epidemic spread to Bulgaria in June, the entire nation had gone into lockdown. The Ministry of Health officials had not had a day off since. What had once been the most leisurely department had, in one leap, become Bulgaria's busiest institution!
As the minister, he naturally had to lead by example. Karl Landsteiner had also gotten a good taste of what it felt like to hold great power in his hands. It was fine at first, but afterward it became a tragedy—the endless affairs were enough to drive anyone mad.
(Note: Bulgaria's ministries were also divided into different ranks. Real-power departments such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of the Army, Ministry of the Navy, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Industry ranked a level higher, and their ministers could be addressed as Ministers of State.
Departments such as the Ministry of