As a precaution, China will establish “a line of separation” at the summit of Mount Everest to prevent climbers from COVID-affected Nepal from mixing with those ascending from the Tibetan side, according to Chinese state media.
Since late April, coronavirus cases have been reported at Everest base camp on the Nepalese side. The Nepalese government has yet to cancel the spring climbing season, which runs from April to early June before the monsoon rains, due to a lack of tourism revenue.
On the summit, a tiny, perilous, and inhospitable area the size of a dining table, it was unclear how the line would be enforced.
According to the head of Tibet’s sports bureau, a small team of Tibetan climbing guides will ascend Everest and set up a “line of separation” at the summit to prevent any contact between mountaineers from both sides of the peak.
According to Xinhua, a group of 21 Chinese nationals is en route to the Tibetan side’s summit.
The Tibetan guides will set up the separation line ahead of their arrival, according to the state-run news agency, but did not specify how it would look.
It was also unclear whether Tibetan guides would enforce the “separation,” or whether they would stay in the “death zone,” where many people have died due to a lack of oxygen, to keep the line.
The summit of the 8,848-meter peak is a small snow mound with only enough room for a half-dozen climbers and guides at any given time.
Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus last year, China has not allowed any foreign climbers to ascend from the Tibetan side due to infection concerns.
Tourists visiting the Everest scenic area in Tibet are also prohibited from visiting the Tibetan side’s base camp.
Continent On May 8, China reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, up from seven the day before. All of the cases involved international travellers. On Friday, Nepal reported 9,023 new cases, the country’s largest single-day increase.
