The Latest: S.Korea: Rules stay relaxed despite virus spike

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

— South Korea: No plans to backtrack on relaxed rules despite spike in virus cases

— Mexico advisory board issues guidelines on reopening businesses

— Pakistan tops 2,000 for a single-day total of new virus cases for 1st time

— China reports seven new virus cases, including six in Jilin province

— 23 die from new coronavirus at Alabama veterans nursing home.

— Venezuela extending lockdown another month.

— Texas starting widespread coronavirus testing in state prisons.

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SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea says it has no immediate plans to revive strict social distancing rules despite a spike in coronavirus cases linked to nightclubs in Seoul.

Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip told reporters Wednesday the government needs more time to analyze details of recent outbreaks before determining whether to maintain relaxed social distancing guidelines.

South Korea has eased up on much of its strict social distancing rules last week before it has about roughly 30 new cases each day in the past several days. On Wednesday, South Korea recorded 26 new cases, 20 of them associated with clubs in Seoul’s Itaewon entertainment district.

Health officials say in principle they would maintain relaxed social distancing rules if the country’s daily jump is below 50 and the number of untraceable cases account for less than 5% of all confirmed cases.

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MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s top advisory body on the coronavirus pandemic says it has issued guidelines that would allow for the...