‘Africa’s COVID-19 cases exceed 267,000 as death toll pass 7,000 mark’

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent surpassed 267,519 as of Thursday afternoon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

   The Africa CDC in its latest situation update said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose from 259,036 on Wednesday afternoon to 267,519 as of Thursday afternoon.

   The continental disease control and prevention agency also disclosed that the death toll from the pandemic also rose from 6,999 on Wednesday to 7,197 as of Thursday afternoon.

   The Africa CDC, which noted that the virus had spread into 54 African countries, said that some 122,661 people who were infected with COVID-19 had recovered across the continent as of the stated period.

   Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the African continent, the highly affected African countries include South Africa with 80,412 confirmed cases, Egypt with 49,219 confirmed cases, Nigeria with 17,735 confirmed cases, Ghana with 12,590 confirmed cases, and Algeria with 11,268 confirmed cases, it was noted.

   When population is taken into consideration, Djibouti, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea, are reporting the most cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population within the continent, according to the Africa CDC.

   The Africa CDC also said that the Southern Africa region is now the most affected area across the continent in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, overtaking the Northern Africa region. Western Africa region is the third-most affected area in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases.

   According to figures from the Africa CDC, during the past week, some 55,612 new COVID-19 cases have been reported across the continent, which the Africa CDC said has registered a 27 per cent increase in new COVID-19 cases compared to what was reported in the previous week.

   Five countries account for 63 per cent of the new COVID-19 cases reported over the past week that are South Africa with 34 per cent, Egypt with 16 per cent, Nigeria with six per cent, Ghana with four per cent, and Cameroon with three per cent, it was noted.

   Early this week, the Africa CDC revealed that some 43 African countries are under full border closure due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, according to the Africa CDC. -Xinhua