The latest figures showed that the number of HFMD cases increased 25 percent to 1,245 in the week ending April 19 over the previous week, bringing the total number of notified HFMD cases this year to 7,560.
Seven pre-schools and six childcare centers have also been advised to close voluntarily to help stop the spread of the HFMD virus.
According to the ministry, previously, childcare centers that report 13 cases in 15 days would be assessed to see if they have to close.
But now the ministry is lowering the threshold for mandatory closure of childcare centers. They will be ordered to close once they hit the trigger level.
According to the ministry, the seven-year-old girl who was hospitalized for inflammation of the brain last week, after a severe case of HFMD, is recovering.
The ministry said investigations are still going on to find out what caused the infection.
