Czech Republic imposes virus border restrictions

The Czech Republic border with Germany and Austria closed at midnight on Friday (2300GMT), as the Czech government tries to stunt the spread of the new coronavirus in the country. Czech citizens and people living in the Czech Republic with residency visas are permitted to cross the border, but others are not.

Cars and trucks were backed up waiting to cross the check point on the D5 motorway earlier in the day, a major highway that crosses the Czech-German border.

By midnight, only a few cars could be seen.

Exceptions for border crossing include truck drivers, train personnel, pilots and Czechs living near the border in Germany.

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.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.