BANGKOK (AP) — Traffic jams and crowds of commuters returned to the Philippine capital on Monday, as the metropolis relaxed antivirus measures in a high-stakes gamble to slowly reopen the economy while fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Commuter trains, taxis, ride-sharing cars, special shuttle buses and motorcycles rumbled back on the roads in metropolitan Manila but were only allowed to carry a fraction of their capacity as a safeguard.

Public transport was still limited under the relaxed rules and many commuters waited for hours to get a ride despite the government's deployment of buses.

A larger swarm of private cars also helped choke roads.

“Many people are now allowed to go out and many industries are reopening so you’ll see a lot of vehicles ... but the situation remains abnormal,” said police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

He warned that police will still go after violators who don't wear face masks or observe physical distancing.

Classes remain suspended for the next two weeks. Barber shops and beauty salons can open next week at a third of their capacity.

The Philippines remains a Southeast Asian hot spot for the coronavirus with more than 18,000 infections and 957 deaths.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

— INDIA EASES AS DEATHS CLIMB: India registered 230 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing its total to 5,394 as the country’s phased plan to ease its lockdown kicked in starting Monday. Authorities are moving forward with the easing even as experts say India is nowhere close to the peak of its outbreak. Railways will run 200 more special passenger trains from Monday and some states have reopened their borders, allowing vehicular traffic. Maharashtra, the worse-hit state, has allowed shops and offices to open outside containment zones.

— SOUTH KOREA STRUGGLES TO TRACE CASES: South Korea’s top infectious disease expert is pleading for people over 65, pregnant women and other medically vulnerable individuals to stay at home as officials struggle to trace and stem the spread of the coronavirus amid increased public activity. Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, made the comments Monday while addressing 24 new cases linked to a group of churches near Seoul, including the death of a man in his 70s. She also raised concern over hundreds of transmissions linked to workplaces, including call centers and a massive warehouse operated by local e-commerce giant Coupang, which officials say failed to properly enforce preventive measures. South Korea has reported 11,503 cases and 271 deaths.