Coronavirus sweeps through Thailand's overcrowded prisons

BANGKOK, May 29, (AFP) - A coronavirus surge sweeping through Thailand's prisons has thrown the spotlight on the kingdom's overcrowded penal system, where some inmates have less space to sleep than the inside of a coffin.

More than 22,000 people have tested positive inside jails, where inmates living cheek by jowl have been encouraged to keep wearing their masks even while they sleep.

Authorities have floated plans to give early releases to prisoners with underlying medical conditions and have announced funding for more testing and medical care in recent days.

But those behind bars say they have been kept in the dark about the seriousness of the outbreak.

Coronavirus storm engulfs Everest

KATHMANDU, May 29, (AFP) - Mount Everest guide Buddhi Bahadur Lama has spent days isolated in a tent after testing positive for coronavirus, as an outbreak that climbers say is putting lives at risk sweeps base camp.

He is one of four in his expedition team thought to have contracted Covid19 at the foot of the world's highest mountain, along with a growing number of others.

“This is not just our problem, it is happening in most of the teams at the base camp right now,” the 35-year- old told AFP.

Dozens of suspected Covid cases have been flown out of the area and at least two companies have cancelled expeditions after team members tested positive.

However authorities in Nepal have yet to acknowledge a single case at the mountain, with the stakes high for the country's tourism industry after a Covid shutdown last year cost millions in lost revenue.