KATHMANDU : Two more Nepali people succumbed to COVID-19 in foreign countries in the past one week.

According to the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), the umbrella organisation of Nepali people living abroad, two Nepali nationals — one each in the United Kingdom and South Africa — died of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the past one week.

So far, as many as 319 Nepali nationals have died of COVID-19 in 20 countries.

Likewise, by Saturday evening, the number of Nepalis contracting COVID-19 in foreign countries had reached 54,591 including 52,945 cases of recovery, which accounts for 95 percent of the total cases.

According to NRNA officials, more Nepali nationals living in the UK, Japan, South Africa and Middle-East countries contracted the virus in this period.

Similarly, NRNA has also urged one and all in Nepal to stay alert as the coronavirus infection rate is still around 10 percent of the total number of PCR tests conducted daily.

Following the dissolution of the lower house of parliament, large gatherings, protests and demonstrations have intensified across the country. People participating in such gatherings are seen flouting COVID-19 health protocols. Public health experts have warned of a second wave of COVID-19 in Nepal owing to such mega gatherings.