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| Mount Everest: Nepal's government shuts off mountain amid virus outbreak | Mount Everest: Nepal's government shuts off mountain amid virus outbreak |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Mount Everest has shut down for the rest of the expedition season because of the coronavirus outbreak. | Mount Everest has shut down for the rest of the expedition season because of the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Nepal's government announced that it would cancel all climbing permits from 14 March until 30 April. | Nepal's government announced that it would cancel all climbing permits from 14 March until 30 April. |
| China had already cancelled expeditions from the northern, Chinese-controlled, side of the mountain. | China had already cancelled expeditions from the northern, Chinese-controlled, side of the mountain. |
| According to the Kathmandu Post, Nepal earns $4m (£3.1m) by issuing Everest climbing permits every year, aside from wider tourism revenue. | |
| "We have decided to halt all tourist visas until 30 April," said Narayan Prasad Bidari, Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office. | "We have decided to halt all tourist visas until 30 April," said Narayan Prasad Bidari, Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office. |
| "As of now, all issued permits and permits yet to be issued for the 2020 Everest season will be cancelled." | "As of now, all issued permits and permits yet to be issued for the 2020 Everest season will be cancelled." |
| It also advised foreigners who were unable to avoid coming to Nepal from 14 March to stay in quarantine for 14 days. | It also advised foreigners who were unable to avoid coming to Nepal from 14 March to stay in quarantine for 14 days. |
| Most climbers come from the US, India, China, UK, Japan, and South Korea - and are a major source of revenue for the Nepalese government. | Most climbers come from the US, India, China, UK, Japan, and South Korea - and are a major source of revenue for the Nepalese government. |
| Typically, anyone who wants to climb Everest needs to pay the government $11,000 (£8,700), though there were talks by the government to raise this figure. | Typically, anyone who wants to climb Everest needs to pay the government $11,000 (£8,700), though there were talks by the government to raise this figure. |
| And that's not including fees that are typically paid to the travel companies, which can also run up tens of thousands. | And that's not including fees that are typically paid to the travel companies, which can also run up tens of thousands. |
| Local sherpas who work as mountain guides will also be affected. | Local sherpas who work as mountain guides will also be affected. |
| "My nine Chinese clients and a Japanese client have cancelled already. Many trekking teams are not coming, which is a big loss for sherpas like us who make most of our money during this time," Lakpa Sherpa, managing director of Pioneer Adventure, told BBC Nepali. | "My nine Chinese clients and a Japanese client have cancelled already. Many trekking teams are not coming, which is a big loss for sherpas like us who make most of our money during this time," Lakpa Sherpa, managing director of Pioneer Adventure, told BBC Nepali. |
| There is currently one confirmed virus case in Nepal, but the country borders India which has more than 70 cases. | There is currently one confirmed virus case in Nepal, but the country borders India which has more than 70 cases. |
| Nepal's government has asked its citizens to avoid mass gatherings including marriages and public functions. | Nepal's government has asked its citizens to avoid mass gatherings including marriages and public functions. |
| More than 125,000 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in 118 countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization. The total number of deaths is more than 4,600. | More than 125,000 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in 118 countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization. The total number of deaths is more than 4,600. |
| The female bikers who rode to Everest | The female bikers who rode to Everest |