Fifteen foreign tourists in Manang have expressed unwillingness to return home at the moments as they fear of the increased risk of COVID-19 in their home countries. They are from the United States of America, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Israel and other European countries, said Chief District Officer of Manang, Pushpa Raj Poudel. 

They are presently staying in Upper Manang, Pisang, Chame, Timang and Dharapani. They said Nepal was safe for them right now because the risk of COVID-19 infection seemed less here and that’s why they did not want to return home. However, collection of data about those tourists staying at Narpabhumi rural municipality has not been possible and they could not be contacted by any means of communications. Similarly, the district administration is unaware about the number of foreign tourists in the Tilicho Base Camp.