“Separation Line” along Mount Everest summit is being set up to limit COVID-19 spread

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Mount Everest

Beijing, May 10, 2021:  China, where the corona virus initially appeared, has largely been able to bring it under control thanks to a series of strict lock down measures and border closures. Now though, the country fears its case load may increase because of the COVID-19 infections detected in mountaineers hoping to scale the Mount Everest. The mountain lies between Nepal and China with the north slope belonging to the latter.

To avoid the risk of infections from across the border in virus-hit Nepal, China will now set up a “separation line” along the peak of the mountain, after nearly 30 potential mountaineers were evacuated as cases emerged in the base camp of the Mount Everest. Nepal, which is currently in the grips of the a deadly second wave of the virus fears the consequences of a slump in what was expected to be a bumper climbing season.

Health authorities in Tibet have said they are taking stringent control measures against the pandemic by limiting contact between climbers on the north and south slopes and also those at the top of the mountain.The control measures include mountain guides setting up dividing lines along the summit before any more climbers begin the climb. Among those climbers who have already passed the quarantine stage in Tibet and are approved to begin the hike are 21 Chinese with the country also stepping up virus restrictions by barring non-climber tourists from entering the area.

The ban imposed by China on foreign climbers since last year is still in place but Nepal had issued huge numbers of permits to boost visitor numbers after last year’s pandemic induced slump. The Mount Everest is a major revenue stream for the country as climbers pay anywhere above $40,000 for the expedition and the Nepalese authorities issue permits for $11,000 per climber. In the normal course of events, over a thousand people would be camped at the bustling tent city at the base camp of the Mount Everest including guides and climbers.

The deadly corona virus wave has spilled over from neighboring India into Nepal, with two out of five of its people tested now coming out positive for the virus.

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