World coronavirus infections pass 200,000, Europe’s borders jammed

BERLIN (AP) — Desperate travellers 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 travellers 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 17 miles and cars for 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.

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