Pandemic shuts down Everest as Nepal suspends all permitsAs well as suspending all climbing permits Nepal also stopped issuing tourist visas on arrival. As well as suspending all climbing permits, Nepal stopped issuing tourist visas on arrival, Yogesh Bhattarai, Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation told AFP. Nepal has issued only five permits for the season but none for Everest so far. Last year's spring window saw a record 885 people summit Everest, 644 of them from Nepal and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet. Many guides and support staff depend on the short climbing season for the bulk of their annual earnings.

Source: Standard Digital March 13, 2020 11:03 UTC