Outbreaks in Germany, S Korea show the risks in easing up

South Korea's capital closed down more than 2,100 bars and or nightspots Saturday because of a new cluster of coronavirus infections, and Germany scrambled to contain fresh outbreaks at slaughterhouses, underscoring dangers authorities face as y try to reopen ir ecomies.

Elsewhere, Belarus, which has t locked down despite increasing case numbers, saw tens of thousands of people turn out to mark Victory Day, anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in 1945. That was in contrast to Russia, where a muted event took place over an empty Red Square.

Around world, US and or hard-hit countries are wrestling with how to ease curbs on business and public activity without touching off a deadly second wave of infection.Germany and South Korea have both carried out extensive testing and contact tracing and have been hailed for avoiding mass deaths that have overwhelmed or countries. But even re, authorities have struggled with finding balance between saving lives and saving jobs.In South Korea, where a decline in new cases had prompted government to loosen up, Seoul shut down thousands of nightclubs, hostess bars and discos after dozens of infections were linked to clubgoers who went out last weekend as country relaxed its social-distancing guidelines.

Many of infections were linked to a 29-year-old man who visited three nightclubs before testing positive.Health officials in Germany faced outbreaks at three slaughterhouses in what was seen as a test of government's strategy for dealing with any resurgence of virus as restrictions are eased.Meanwhile, governments came under fresh scrutiny over ir handling of crisis.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Europe must ackwledge that it “wasn't well-prepared” for outbreak. In U.S., internal government emails obtained by Associated Press show that a decision to shelve detailed advice from nation's top disease control experts for reopening communities during epidemic came from highest levels of White House.

Worldwide, virus is confirmed to have infected over 3.9 million people and killed more than 275,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University based on data reported by governments.Hard-hit Italy saw people return to streets for ir traditional aperitivos and revel in fine wear as restrictions re have eased. In some cases, people went too far for authorities.Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala warned that “a handful of crazy people'' were putting city's ecomic recovery at risk, and threatened to shut down city's trendy Navigli district after crowds of young Milanese were seen out at aperitivo hour igring social-distancing rules.

In Rome, Campo dei Fiori flower and vegetable market was bustling Saturday morning, first weekend Italians were allowed outside for more than just work and necessities. Campo piazza, long a center of nightlife, has also come back to life at evening aperitivo hour.

But confusion about what is w allowed and what is t created frustration for business owners.Carlo Alberto, owner of TabaCafe, an Argentine empanada bar that was selling cocktails to a few customers Friday, said that since reopening this week he had been threatened with a fine by police because of crowds that had formed in front of his bar.

“Am I supposed to send m home? y need a guard here to do that,” he said. “ laws aren't clear, decree isn't clear. You don't kw what you can do.” Elsewhere, Pakistan allowed shops, factories, construction sites and some or businesses to reopen Saturday, while more than 1,600 new cases and 24 deaths were reported. Prime Minister Imran Khan said government is rolling back curbs because it can't support millions of families that depend on daily ws.

government warned that controls will be reimposed if public fails to follow social-distancing guidelines.Ors imposed new restrictions: Kuwait, in Middle East, anunced a lockdown from Sunday through May 30.Spaniards learned Friday night that health authorities will allow regions that have demonstrated ir hospitals are prepared to handle a second wave of infections to scale back ir lockdowns.

In parts of Spain, mostly heavily rural regions, bars and restaurants will be allowed to open up 50% of ir outdoor seating on Monday, and churches, aters and museums can also reopen with limits on attendanceBut Madrid and Barcelona, country's largest cities, both badly hit by virus, will remain locked down.

“ pandemic is evolving favorably, but re is a risk of ar outbreak that could generate a serious catastrophe,” Spanish health official Fernando Simón said Saturday. “Personal responsibility is vital.” outbreak forced Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark Victory Day without usual pomp of a military parade in Moscow's Red Square.This year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is 75th anniversary. Instead, Putin laid flowers at tomb of unkwn soldier, and a show of military might was limited to a flyover of 75 warplanes and helicopters.

Belarus, though, held a military parade in front of big crowds in capital, Minsk, despite sharply rising coronavirus infections. Belarus has t imposed restrictions to halt virus' spread, and authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed concerns about it as a “psychosis.”