South Korea reports more virus cases, US job losses surge

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — 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. job losses surged and China prepared to reopen more schools.

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

Worldwide, the 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 other countries had prompted them to loosen controls that plunged the global economy into its worst slump since the 1930s.

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

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

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

The Labor Department reported unemployment stood at 14.7% after some 20.5 million jobs vanished in April. The department, citing miscounting of some workers by its survey-takers, said the true rate probably was closer to 20%. Some economists said the total...