Africa: No slowdown in virus spread as cases near 1M

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The number of coronavirus cases in Africa is now over 968,000, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Tuesday.

According to a daily update, 968,020 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in 54 African countries, with fatalities now at 20,612 and 629,726 recoveries.

With nearly 517,000 infections, South Africa is, by far, the worst-hit country on the continent and accounts for more than half of Africa’s total cases.

The country’s alarming numbers make up around 95% of the Southern Africa region’s 541,800 cases, which is followed by North Africa at a distant second with 164,200 infections.

West Africa has 131,700 cases, East Africa 81,100, and Central Africa has 49,200 cases so far, according to the Africa CDC.

The virus has claimed over 9,100 lives in Southern Africa, 6,800 in North Africa, 2,000 in West Africa, 1,800 in East Africa, and 944 in Central Africa.

At least 368,600 patients have recovered in Southern Africa, 91,900 in North Africa, 90,900 in West Africa, 42,800 in East Africa, and 35,500 in Central Africa, the update said.

Across the world, COVID-19 has killed almost 694,000 people in 188 countries and regions since last December.

Nearly 18.3 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the US, Brazil, India, and Russia currently the worst-hit countries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than half of all patients in the world – over 10.92 million – have recovered so far.