BERLIN (AP) — Desperate travelers choked European border crossings Wednesday after countries implemented strict controls to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has now infected more than 200,000 people worldwide and killed more than 8,000.
In releasing the new figures, Johns Hopkins University also said more than 82,000 people recovered from the virus, which causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people, although severe illness is more likely in the elderly and those with existing health problems.
European leaders have closed borders to nonessential traffic, while leaving many frontiers open to cross-border workers and trucks carrying critical goods like food and medicine. That has led to massive backups of travelers and trucks alike.
To try to alleviate some of the pressure from eastern Europeans stuck in Austria trying to return home, Hungary overnight opened its borders in phases. Bulgarian citizens were first allowed to cross in carefully controlled convoys, then Romanians had a turn.
But by early Wednesday on the Austrian side, trucks were backed up for 28 kilometers (17 miles) and cars for 14 kilometers (nearly 9 miles) as rules allowing only Hungarians or cargo trucks to cross kicked back in.
In a second attempt, Hungary again opened the borders Wednesday through Thursday morning to allow Romanians, Bulgarians and Serbians to transit.
“The traffic jam is slowly starting to dissolve,” said Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, adding that officials were trying to work on a more permanent solution.
“We’re trying to manage the traffic situation as best as possible,” he said.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed outrage as his citizens returned, claiming that 40,000 coming from jobs abroad had largely ignored orders to go into self-isolation at home, putting others in the country at risk.
Italy has been the second hardest hit country with more than 31,000 cases, behind more than 81,000 in China.
But German health authorities warned it was just a matter of time before the numbers spike unless people heed warnings to avoid contact.
Lothar Wieler, head of the Germany’s disease control institute, warned that unless social contacts are effectively reduced there could be up to 10 million infected people in Germany in two to three months.
He said measures taken now could sharply reduce the spread and help ensure that those who do need medical help can be treated.
“We are at the start of the epidemic,” he said. “We are 1-2 weeks behind Italy. ”
Around the world, nations faced the same issue of trying to slow the spread.
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. and Canada had agreed close its border to “nonessential traffic,” but assured that trade wouldn’t be affected.
In Southeast Asia, the causeway between Malaysia and the financial hub of Singapore was eerily quiet after Malaysia shut its borders, while the Philippines backed down on an order giving foreigners 72 hours to leave from a large part of its main island.
Trump’s administration was considering a plan to immediately return to Mexico all people who cross America’s southern border illegally, according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the plan hasn’t been finalized.
The coronavirus is present in every U.S. state after West Virginia reported an infection. In far-flung Hawaii, the governor encouraged travelers to postpone their island vacations for at least the next 30 days, while the governor of Nevada ordered a monthlong closure of the state’s casinos.