China to create ‘line of separation’ at Everest summit to stop Covid-19 transmission from Nepalese side of the mountain

China will stop climbers from the Chinese side of the mountain mixing with climbers from the Nepalese side amid Covid-19 fears

There has been a cluster of cases at base camp on the Nepalese side of the mountain, which started in April

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China will put a line on the summit of Everest to stop mingling, but quite how they will enforce the rule on the inhospitable square the size of a dining table is anyone’s guess. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 1:50pm, 10 May 2021Updated: 1:50pm, 10 May 2021

China will set up “a line of separation” at the summit of Mount Everest to prevent the mingling of climbers from Covid-19-hit Nepal and those ascending from the Tibetan side as a precautionary measure, Chinese state media reported on Sunday.

Everest base camp on the Nepalese side has been hit by coronavirus cases since late April. The Nepalese government, starved of tourism revenue, has yet to cancel the spring climbing season, usually from April to early June before the monsoon rains.

It was not immediately clear how the line would be enforced on the summit, a tiny, perilous and inhospitable area the size of a dining table.

A small team of Tibetan climbing guides will ascend Everest and set up the “line of separation” at the summit to stop any contact between mountaineers from both sides of the peak, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the head of Tibet’s sports bureau.

There has been a Covid-19 outbreak in Nepal’s base camp. Photo: Shutterstock

A group of 21 Chinese nationals are en route to the summit on the Tibetan side, Xinhua reported.