South Korea relaxes some social distancing rules as new virus cases fall

South Korea announced much of its social distancing guidelines will remain in place until May 5, with some exceptions introduced.

Religious institutions will be allowed to reopen, while sporting events can resume without an audience.

"It is safest to maintain the intensive social distancing, but it isn't easy realistically. We need to find a middle ground," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a televised address.

"If we can maintain a stable management at the current level, we will shift to 'routine social distancing' from May 6."

The decision comes as the country reported just eight new coronavirus infections, bringing its total cases to 10,661.

Of the new cases, five were imported from overseas, with the death toll at 234.