South Korea reports more virus cases, US job losses surge

South Korea on Saturday reported 18 new coronavirus cases after a spate of infections prompted authorities to urge bars and nightclubs to close, while U.S.

United States, Brazil and Italy wrestled with how to ease curbs on business and public activity. Ors imposed new restrictions: Kuwait in Middle East anunced a nationwide lockdown from Sunday through May 30.

Worldwide, virus has infected at least 3.9 million people and killed more than 270,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University based on data reported by governments.

A decline in new infections in South Korea and some or countries h prompted m to loosen controls that plunged global ecomy into its worst slump since 1930s.

South Korea urged nightclubs to close for a month after new cases jumped above 10 for first time in five days. government h eased social distancing guidelines and plans to start reopening schools Wednesday.

Most of new Korean cases are linked to Itaewon leisure district of capital, Seoul, where a 29-year-old man visited three nightclubs before testing positive. infections raised concern about a broer spre in Seoul, where about half of South Korea’s 51 million people live.

Meanwhile, U.S. government reported unemployment surged to its highest level since Great Depression of 1930s, likely ding to conflict over when to ease restrictions that have closed businesses.

Labor Department reported unemployment stood at 14.7% after some 20.5 million jobs vanished in April. department, citing miscounting of some workers by its survey-takers, said true rate probably was closer to 20%. Some ecomists said total might be even higher at 23.6%, t far from 1939 peak of 25%.

President Donald Trump, running for reelection during an ecomic slump, is pushing state goverrs to allow factories, restaurants and shops to reopen despite warnings that might le to a dely spike in infections.

Some states including Texas and South Carolina have allowed restaurants, hair salons and some or businesses to reopen. Ors such as New York, hardest-hit U.S. state, and Illiis want to see more progress in containing disease before relaxing controls.

Trump reelection campaign planned to hammer its opponent with negative s while touting a strong ecomy. But Trump’s team is increasingly worried about key states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida. More than one-fifth of Michigan’s workers are on unemployment.

Also Friday, Vice President

Washington is dispensing nearly $3 trillion to households and businesses, including relief checks of $1,200 per person and an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits.

China, where pandemic began in December, anunced plans to reopen more schools in its capital, Beijing.

More than 84,200 junior high school students and 13,200 teachers will return to class Monday, city school authorities anunced. Nearly 50,000 high school students went back to class April 27.

China was first ecomy to shut down to fight virus and first to reopen after ruling Communist Party declared disease under control in March. Controls including checks for virus’s telltale fever still are in place at apartment complexes and public buildings in capital.

ceremonial Chinese legislature is due to hold its annual session May 22, postponed from March. government has yet to say how some 3,000 delegates will hold meetings.

In Europe, Britain’s environment minister said re will be “dramatic overnight change” anunced when Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a national dress on Sunday.

Johnson is expected to explain how Britain, which has highest coronavirus death toll in Europe, can ease lockdown. Only mir changes such as allowing people to sunba in parks are anticipated.

government will be “very, very cautious,” said minister, George Eustice.

Italy’s government said it would to take legal action to stop a rrn province, Bolza, from reopening stores this weekend in defiance of a national plan to wait until later this month.

Italy has reported more than 217,000 virus cases and 30,200 deaths.

In Brazil, country’s fifth-biggest city, Fortaleza, started a lockdown on Friday amid surging infections, even as President Jair Bolsonaro asked Supreme Court to order states to roll back restrictions on business.

Fortaleza, capital of state of Ceara in rast, will impose roblocks and allow only essential services. Similar restrictions were imposed this week in capitals of states of Maranhao and Para.

Fortaleza, a city of 2.7 million people, has suffered 727 virus deaths. Authorities expect 4,000 by end of May.

Brazil has more than 140,000 cases and 9,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

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McDonald reported from Beijing. Associated Press journalists around world contributed to this report.

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