KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 20

The COVID-19 death toll of Nepalis living abroad has surged past 312, said the Non-Resident Nepali Association today. With 11 more deaths over the past two weeks, the number of Nepalis who succumbed to the virus reached 312.

The Health Committee of the NRNA said the United Arab Emirates recorded the death of eight Nepalis, while one each died in Malaysia and Kenya during a period of 14 days. According to NRNA, a total of 52,157 Nepalis have been infected with the contagion in 52 foreign countries till date.

Of them, 49,110 have recovered from the disease.

The recovery rate is 94 per cent. A clinically recovered COVID-19 patient should test negative for the virus twice in the gap of at least 24 hours. However, the death of 312 Nepalis were reported in 21 countries.

Health committee Coordinator Dr Sanjeev Sapkota said more Nepalis contracted the infection in Malaysia, India, Qatar, UAE, Nigeria, South Africa, Canada, Austria, Japan and South Korea last week. He warned more Nepalis had tested positive for the virus after the second wave of COVID-19 in foreign countries, mainly in Europe.

NRNA appealed to all Nepalis living abroad to take precautionary measures against the disease by avoiding gatherings and unnecessary travel during the upcoming Christmas. It also advised mandatory use of face mask in public transport and crowded places, while maintaining social and physical distance.

Similarly, NRNA said it had extended necessary support and relief materials to Nepalis, who were affected by the pandemic abroad.

Relief materials included medical equipment and foodstuff. More than 2,100 volunteers were mobilised in 50 countries.

NRNA informed that over 126,989 Nepalis stranded in foreign countries were rescued from 33 countries and sent home, in association with the government and diplomatic missions abroad.