The German government is set to announce how and where transit zones will be established to deal with migrants. The aim is to help authorities cope with the huge numbers and to decide who should remain in Germany.

“Transit zones are not a German invention they are planned according to European Union guidelines. And I think, facing this situation we have, we shouldn’t exclude any possibility when it is better to decide between people we want to save and have to save because they are being pursued, because they’ve lost everything and those who come for economic reasons,” said Peter Altmaier Chief of Staff of the German Chancellery.

The announcement comes after officials in the southern state of Bavaria said emergency measures such as closing the border with Austria were needed.

More than 225,000 migrants crossed into Bavaria in less than five weeks and authorities said they are stretched beyond the limit to house and care for them all.