Border chaos, choked supply lines in attempts to slow virus

The Associated Press ^ | March 17, 2020 | By DAVID RISING and ADAM GELLER

[Oldeconomybuyer]

BERLIN - Strict new controls to slow the spread of the coronavirus froze traffic at global borders Tuesday, idling trucks in columns more than 30 miles long at some European crossings, while masked security officers turned back travelers at others.

The moves by officials bent on protecting their citizens raised new questions about how to maintain supplies of food, medical equipment and other goods in coming weeks that will be critical to nations in lockdown.

Word of the border closings fanned growing fears in Europe, prompting widespread hoarding.

“There is enough for everybody,” German Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said, castigating people for spreading panic by posting fake reports that supermarkets would be closing. “I’m certain we will weather this society-wide situation well, so long as we behave as a society.”

The moves come as caseloads in Spain and Italy — where more than 2,500 deaths now account for a third of world’s total — continued to spiral. Worldwide, the number of cases topped 190,000.

In the U.S., retailers and food companies scrambled to ramp up production after two weeks of panic-purchasing by shoppers. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, and supermarket chains like Wegman’s, cut store hours to give workers time to restock shelves.

To help speed shipments, U.S. officials suspended rules Tuesday capping the road time of truckers who are hauling food or emergency medical supplies.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Trucks are jammed on the motorway A4 near Bautzen, Germany, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Because of the controls at the border with Poland, a traffic jam formed on the Autobahn 4 between Dresden and Goerlitz, which, according to police, had grown to a length of 40 kilometers by noon. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

[353FMG]

Put Frau Merkel in charge of any problem.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

Wait... I thought Europe was way ahead of us and did everything by high speed rail 🤣🤣🤣

[blam]

Isn’t it said that the SHTF in the cities when these trucks stop?

[silverleaf]

This is the country that wants to make vaccine for the world?

[silverleaf]

We are Nine meals from chaos
Not just there but everywhere