China To Separate Its Territory From Nepal On Everest Summit
JAKARTA - China will separate its territory from Nepal on the summit of Mount Everest. Segregation is done with a dividing line to prevent climbers from Nepal from mingling with those climbing from the Tibetan side.
This is a precautionary measure for the spread of COVID-19, as Nepal has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases. Citing Reuters, Mount Everest base camp on the Nepalese side has been hit by COVID-19 cases since late April.
Nepal's government, which lacks tourism revenue, has not canceled the spring climbing season. It is unclear how the line will be enforced at mountaintops, small areas, or dangerous areas.
A small team of Tibetan climbing guides will climb Everest and put up a "dividing line" on the summit to stop contact between climbers from both sides of the summit.
A group of 21 Chinese nationals were on their way to the summit on the Tibetan side. Tibetan guides will set the dividing line before the arrival of many climbers.
China has not allowed foreign climbers to climb from the Tibetan side since the COVID-19 outbreak last year due to contagion problems. Tourists in the Mount Everest area of Tibet are also prohibited from visiting base camps on the Tibetan side.
Nepal base camp caseNepalese base camp authorities say they have received reports of 17 confirmed cases of hospitals in the capital Kathmandu. A number of climbers were taken to higher camps for treatment.
Staff at a private hospital in Kathmandu also confirmed that the patient had tested positive for coronavirus after previously being at Everest base camp. The Nepalese government has so far denied having any knowledge of the COVID-19 case at Mount Everest base camp.
That raised concerns that officials were underestimating the situation for fear it would bring more pressure to close the mountain for the expedition. Foreign climbers are the main source of income of the Nepalese government, which shut down Everest last year during the pandemic.
Authorities have mandated that climbers quarantine in Nepal before proceeding to base camp. But concerns have been raised in the climbing community and states that the COVID-19 outbreak on the climb is serious.
Prem Subedi, deputy secretary at Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said the ministry was not aware of any cases of coronavirus. at base camp.
"So far no cases of COVID-19 at Everest base camp have been reported to the Ministry of Tourism," he said.
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