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The number of COVID-19 infections in Africa reached 4,925,978 on Monday as various amid a World Health Organization (WHO) warning that the continent’s healthcare systems are “far from ready” to cope with a fresh surge of infections.
Figures published by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also showed that the infections tally was obtained from a cumulative figure of 48,643,030 tests.
The health agency’s data shows that 132,425 virus-related deaths have been recorded on the continent.
South Africa remains the hardest-hit country by the pandemic in Africa, having registered 1,696,564 infections with 56,974 deaths.
Only Morocco, with 521,426 cases, has reported more than half a million COVID-19 infections on the continent.
A further look at the Africa CDC data shows that besides the two, three other African countries have recorded more than 200,000 infections; Tunisia (355,732), Ethiopia (272,914) and Egypt (267,972).
Egypt (15,352) and Tunisia (12,980) are the only other countries on the continent besides South Africa to have reported more than 10,000 virus-related fatalities.
In total, Africa has registered 4,445,872 successful recoveries.
Last week, the WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, warned of a possible third-wave of the pandemic in Africa, urging countries to bolster their response plans.
“The threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising,” she said.
In recent weeks, parts of the continent have seen a worrying rise in infections, even as efforts continue to contain the pandemic.
South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are some of the countries to have seen a rise in their active caseloads.
In response, Uganda on Sunday announcer tighter restrictions, including a 42-day closer of schools and religious gatherings.
Countries on the continent continue to vaccinate their populations, hoping to stop further spread of the virus and protect the vulnerable. -CGTN
Online Reporter