Nepal’s reopening to tourists hit by Everest coronavirus case – evacuated climber confirms Covid-19 diagnosis on Facebook, is ‘doing OK now’

Norwegian climber Erlend Ness, who was hoping to scale world’s highest peak, has been diagnosed with Covid-19. A sherpa in his party has also tested positive

Nepal has eased quarantine rules in an effort to attract more climbers, despite the difficulties of treating them if they contract the virus

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A climber’s Covid-19 diagnosis, after spending time at Everest base camp (pictured), is a blow to Nepal’s hopes for a bumper mountaineering season on the world’s highest peak. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 10:46am, 23 Apr 2021Updated: 10:46am, 23 Apr 2021

A Norwegian climber hoping to summit Everest confirmed on Thursday that he had tested positive for Covid-19, in a blow to Nepal’s hopes for a bumper mountaineering season on the world’s highest peak.

The pandemic wiped out last year’s season, but Nepal has eased quarantine rules in an effort to attract more climbers, despite the difficulties of treating them if they contract the virus.

“My diagnosis is Covid-19,” Erlend Ness said in a Facebook message. “I’m doing OK now … the hospital is taking care [of me].”

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. Sherpas, an ethnic minority local to the Everest region, are recruited to help most climbing parties in the high Himalayas.