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This was the scene this morning on Snowdon as mountain rescuers warned they cannot guarantee help amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Pen y Pass car park was full with hundreds of cars parked along the roads, as numerous walkers hiked up Wales' biggest mountain.

But they were warned it is putting themselves and mountain rescuers at risk as the covid-19 outbreak escalates.

(Image: Arwyn Roberts)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already called for an end to unnecessary social contact and travel and yesterday shut down all pubs, bars and restaurants.

The North Wales Mountain Rescue Association - which represents the regions' six teams - has raised serious concerns about walkers taking to mountains, sparking unnecessary call-outs for them, with people urged to stick to familiar routes.

Last week, two call outs were received, one for the Ogwen team for a young man, lightly dressed and with two dogs, cragfast on Tryfan in darkness.

(Image: Arwyn Roberts)

The other was for the Llanberis team for another lightly dressed and equipped man who was lost in darkness on Snowdon.

Mountain rescue volunteers were deployed not knowing if either casualty could have symptoms of Covid-19.

A statement has now been released by the national body, Mountain Rescue England and Wales, which says: "Resilience is a priority in order to ensure that as many volunteers are available to provide the rescue service. This is achieved by minimising exposure of face to face contact by arranging meetings online and postponing physical training.

(Image: Arwyn Roberts)

"People can greatly assist too, by answering honestly when asked about symptoms of Covid-19 by the Mountain Rescue Team Leaders and by not taking unnecessary risks when enjoying the outdoors.

"Anyone who has the symptoms of Covid-19 or is self-isolating because of exposure of Covid-19, should seriously consider the risks that they impose on the volunteers of the mountain rescue teams should they need and call for their assistance.

"These volunteers are well-equipped and well-trained for all the usual hazards that they encounter on the mountains.

"They are not trained or equipped for dealing with the effects of this pandemic. Even if the specialist training was given and the specialist protective equipment was issued, it is for the hospital setting and not in all weathers, daylight and darkness on a steep mountain side.

"Mountain Rescue team members ask that members of the public who are going to the countryside and mountains do not take added risks. Keep to familiar challenges. Avoid remote places. Ensure that you are self sufficient and can make a reasonable effort to self-rescue.

"As the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) states in an article on Covid-19, “Don’t assume there will be Mountain Rescue cover.”"