COVID-19 Climbed the Heights of Everest

There were tales of world’s richest people sitting the pandemic out on private islands, and luxury yachts in early days. But that was before NASA implemented precautions to ensure COVID could not spread to International Space Station. Nowadays, we know the disease is everywhere we go. Especially since news leaked out COVID-19 climbed the heights of Everest, the highest point on our planet.

UK Government Thanks Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal

The Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal is a voluntary non-profit organization formed in 1973. It’s objective is to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas as increasing numbers trek up the slopes. Until recently, Acute Mountain Sickness has been its main focus of attention. Because this causes symptoms acute to a hangover such as dizziness, headache, muscle aches, and nausea.

However, in its severe form it turns to Altitude Pulmonary Edema. This is a buildup of fluid in the lungs that can be very dangerous and even life threatening akin to severe COVID-19. Then in April 1, 2021 Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal posted a letter dated March 3, 2021 from British Embassy Kathmandu. This letter thanked it for ‘all its help during COVID-19 crisis the past year’.

How COVID-19 Quietly Climbed the Heights of Everest

BBC World Service environment correspondent Singh Khadka brought this to our attention on May 5, 2021. He described how mountaineers and authorities told him of rising numbers of climbers with Covid-19 symptoms. And of rising numbers of positive tests that raised fears of a serious outbreak.

Staff at a private Kathmandu hospital told him of patients tested positive for coronavirus after arriving from Everest base camp. There were allegations the government could be downplaying this to ‘protect a major source of revenue’. Although they are enforcing quarantine for arriving climbers, now they know COVID-19 climbed the heights of their Everest.