KATHMANDU: A Norwegian mountaineer hoping to summit the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, in Nepal has confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Mountaineer Erlend Ness said in a Facebook message, “I am diagnosis with Covid-19. I’m doing ok now… The hospital is taking care (of me),” he added. Ness was evacuated from the slopes by helicopter and taken to a hospital in the Nepali capital Kathmandu after spending time at Everest base camp.
Norwegian broadcaster NRK, which interviewed him, reported that a sherpa in his party had also tested positive.
“I really hope that none of the others get infected with corona high up in the mountains. It is impossible to evacuate people with a helicopter when they’re above 8,000 meters,” Erlend told NRK.
Breathing is already difficult at high altitudes so any outbreak of disease among climbers presents major health risks.
“The plan was to get fast high up in the mountains to make sure that we wouldn’t get infected… I’ve been unlucky and I could have done more by myself when it comes to sanitary precautions,” Ness added.
One hospital in Kathmandu confirmed it had taken in patients from Everest who had contracted coronavirus but could not give a number.
“I can’t share the details but some evacuated from Everest have tested positive,” Prativa Pandey, the medical director at Kathmandu’s CIWEC Hospital, said.
The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out last year’s season however, Nepal has eased quarantine rules in a bid to attract more mountaineers despite the difficulties of treating them if they contract the virus.
Nepal had issued 377 permits this year to climb the mountain and the final number is expected to exceed the 381 handed out in 2019.
A city of tents hosting hundreds of foreign climbers and support staff is fast growing at the foot of Everest and other peaks in the area.
