Climbers rejoiced when summits opened up at the base of Mount Everest, but with climbers testing positive for coronavirus, spirits seem to be dampened again.
Rojita Adhikari, a climber who tested positive a few days after she left the base camp on April 19, said there were several unreported cases. “The Nepal Government is still denying there is a COVID-19 outbreak at Everest base camp, despite emerging evidence. Why is the government hiding the truth?” she tweeted.
The Nepali government is prohibiting climbers from sharing pictures of other climbers without consent. Polish climber Pawel Michalski wrote on Facebook, “30 people have already been evacuated” from base camp and subsequently tested positive. And Everest ER, a voluntary organization that provides aid to those on the mountain, has said some climbers are isolating in their tents, “as we’ve had a few confirmed cases of COVID-19 with evacuation from EBC (Everest Base Camp).”
In 2019, Everest expeditions contributed over $300 million to the economy. Nepali government requires climbers to test negative for COVID-19 before they begin an expedition. There is, however, no way to test the climbers, so they need to bring their testing kits. Prakash Karel, a doctor who treats patients at the Everest base camp, told Reuters his clinic doesn't have laboratory permission to test for Covid-19.
According to a tour operator of Seven Summits Trek, Mingma Sherpa at least 19 people have been evacuated from the camps of the mountain out of which seven tested positive. The rest of them are scheduled to take tests.
Another physician said, “Many climbers are isolated in their tents at the moment.” Companies are also being criticised for keeping expeditions operational amid the pandemic. On April 30 people were evacuated from camps after testing positive for the virus. After restrictions were eased, about a year after the pandemic broke out, 394 permits were issued for expeditions till April.
Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Shantosh Ballave Poudyal said three cleaners at Dhaulagiri Base Camp had tested positive and one of them was evacuated on Wednesday
