Top of the world reels: the coronavirus has reached Everest

¿How a microscopic virus achieved the feat of reaching the planet’s highest peak? The answer is easy. Thanks to our host organization. Although many believed that this pathogen would not reach distant countries or places on Earth, the SARS-CoV-2 showed that a year and a half later it is still stronger than ever and continues to expand, even until it reaches Mount Everest, which rises to 8,848.86 meters.

The more daring climbers believed that this season they should put aside their ropes and climbing gear due to the pandemic. But no. Nepalese authorities said the virus was not going to pose a risk and that climbers who dare to achieve the feat of climbing it and prove positive, simply could not do it. But two brave Icelandic mountaineers managed to reach the summit of Everest at the end of May and descend without a problem, despite the coronavirus. His feat is an achievement, but he once again puts his eye on the Nepalese authorities, who continue to allow climbs despite the fact that there are positive cases of COVID-19.

Sigurdur Sveinsson and Heimir Hallgrímsson they started coughing when they were 7,000 meters away, according to a message they posted on May 27, when they recounted the difficulty of returning to base camp. “At that time and in this place, there was no chance to take a test,” said the climbers in an article published on the website of Umhyggja, a charity that cares for sick children and for which they fundraise.

Before starting the climb, both had tested negative on a diagnostic test. After 67 days of travel, the two climbers reached the summit, at 8,849 meters, on Monday, May 31 at 4:30 p.m. local time (10:45 p.m. GMT Sunday). “On the way down we both started to feel very tired, cough and feel bad”, they said. Despite breathing difficulties, they managed to descend and reached base camp, where a test confirmed they were positive. Several cases of coronavirus have been recorded in recent weeks among foreign climbers and several evacuations have already been necessary.

The Nepalese government refuses to talk about an explosion of cases on Everest and continues to allow climbs, contrary to what happened last year. But at least 100 climbers and support staff have been infected with the coronavirus on Mount Everest. Austria’s Lukas Furtenbach, who has become the only guide to suspend his Everest expedition as a precaution against the coronavirus, said one of his foreign guides and six Nepalese sherpas tested positive.

“All the cases that we know now, of rescue pilots, insurers, medics, expedition leaders have been confirmed and I have the evidence to prove it,” Furtenbach told The Associate press in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. “We have at least 100 people who tested positive for COVID in the base camp, and the numbers could be between 150 or 200“He added and said that many cases were evident at Everest Base Camp because he saw sick people and heard them cough inside their tents.

This year, there were very many contenders for the ascent of the world’s highest peak, after everything was called off in 2020. A total of 408 foreigners have been given permits to climb Everest this season with the help of hundreds of sherpas and support personnel who had been stationed at base camp since April.

But Nepalese mountaineering authorities have denied that there are active cases of COVID-19 this season among mountaineers and support staff in all Himalayan base camps. Mountaineering in the region was suspended last year due to the pandemic.

Furtenbach said that Most of the teams that were promoted weren’t carrying coronavirus test kits and before theirs was taken off they helped run tests and confirmed two cases. At the end of April, a Norwegian mountaineer became the first positive case at Everest base camp. He was transferred by helicopter to Kathmandu, where he received treatment and then returned to his country. “Nepal invited foreign expeditions and guaranteed us our security against covid. My clients did not feel safe in the base camp “added. The mountaineering industry has sharply criticized the Nepalese government for continuing to allow climbs. “There is no excuse for the government’s blatant lies, denials and cover-ups this season,” mountain blogger Alan Arnette said.

The hardest season

Lakpa Sherpa has climbed Everest seven times. But this 2021 season, marked by the covid-19 epidemic, the refusal of the Nepalese authorities to admit the infections and two cyclones that have prevented the climbs, is undoubtedly the most difficult of his guide career.

“This season has been very difficult. We were already working under covid pressure and the (bad) weather betrayed us»Explained this expedition organizer.

“Before, there were fits of coughs, colds and the risk of avalanches and cracks. But this year, the danger lies in the fact that in case of covid infection, it is not able to climb since (this disease) makes breathing difficult and causes fatigue ”, explained the guide Mingma Dorji Sherpa. .

Snow storm

The cancellation of the season last year was a great loss to the economy of Nepal, a country heavily dependent on tourism. In addition to the pandemic, two cyclones rocked India in May and limited access to the roof of the world.

Last week, when the second cyclone hit Indian territory, a massive snowstorm hit Everest, engulfing the tents of the remaining candidates for the ascent.

The total number of climbers who have peaked this year has yet to be released, but the Tourism Ministry estimates it at around 400, up from 644 in 2019.

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