Trekkers and guides flown from Mount Everest area

Rescue flights on Sunday flew 114 foreign nationals and Nepali guides out of the area surrounding Mount Everest to Nepal's capital Kathmandu. The country's tourist board confirmed 11 flights on small planes had transported the tourists and guides who had been stranded in the mountain village of Lukla, a popular starting point for those trekking to one of Mount Everest's base camps.

Many tourists decided to cut their treks to base camp short and headed to Lukla's small airport instead in an attempt to start journeying home amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Thousands of tourists have been stranded in Nepal since the country shut its borders in an attempt to combat the spread of the new virus.

Similar rescue flights from Lukla had brought in 178 tourists and guides on Saturday - many tourists have had to wait several days for transport out of the area's only airport.

Sunday's rescue flights are the last planned from the small airport.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.