Covid: Climber becomes first to test positive at Mount Everest

23 April 2021, 14:37 | Updated: 23 April 2021, 14:40

A Norwegian climber tested positive for Covid-19 at base camp
A Norwegian climber tested positive for Covid-19 at base camp. Picture: ChinaImages/SIPA USA/PA Images

By Will Taylor

A climber has become the first person to test positive for coronavirus infection at Mount Everest base camp.

Norwegian Erlend Ness was helicoptered out and taken to hospital in Kathmandu in Nepal.

It has sparked fears that Covid-19 could spread among the hundreds of climbers, guides and helpers at the base if they do not take precautions and are not checked immediately .

Mr Ness said told Associated Press that he tested positive on April 15 but after a negative test on Thursday he is now staying with a local family.

Read more: Dozens more cases of Indian coronavirus variant detected in UK

Mira Acharya, director at the Nepalese Department of Mountaineering, insisted there were no active cases on the mountains.

But mountain guide Lukas Furtenbach warned any outbreak could end the climbing season, ahead of expected good weather in May.

Climbing Mount Everest was cancelled last year due to the pandemic
Climbing Mount Everest was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Picture: Aryan Dhimal/Zuma Press/PA Images

The Austrian, who is leading a team of 18 to Everest and its sister peak Mount Lhotse, said Mr Ness had lived with others for weeks.

"We would need now most urgently mass testing in base camp, with everyone tested and every team being isolated, no contact between teams," he added.

"That needs to be done now, otherwise it is too late."

Read more: 'A great day of hope': War-torn Syria receives first Covid vaccines

Mountaineering was closed last year after the coronavirus outbreak spread and this year marked the first time climbers arrived to the highest mountain on Earth since May 2019.

The climbing season in Nepal runs from March to May.

Ms Acharya said only illnesses like pneumonia and altitude sickness had been reported.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million given knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing experience of growing up with his alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail