Chinese state media reported on May 9 that the country would set up a divider on Mount Everest to prevent climbers from contracting COVID-19.
Mount Everest. Photo: Reuters Camping sites on the slopes of Mount Everest on the Nepal side have been affected by a series of COVID-19 cases since late April. The Nepal government, not wanting to cut off revenue from tourism, has yet to cancel the spring climbing season, which usually runs from April to early June, before the rainy season. According to the Xinhua News Agency , a group of Tibetan climbing guides will climb Everest and set up a “boundary” to prevent any contact between climbers from both sides. It is not clear how the divider will be set up on Mount Everest – which is only the size of a dining table, and has an extremely harsh climate. And it’s not clear whether the Tibetan guides will just put up a fence, or have to stay in the area of Mount Everest to keep the divider. This is known as the “death zone”, where many people died due to lack of oxygen. According to the Reuters , the 8,848m high peak is just a small snow mound, with just enough space for about 5-6 climbers and guides. China has not allowed any foreign climbers to climb Everest from the Tibetan side since the COVID-19 outbreak last year. China on Sunday recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases, all imported cases. Meanwhile, Nepal reported 9,023 new cases on Friday – a record increase in the country.
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