Africa: Over 5,000 new virus cases for 2nd straight day

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The coronavirus pandemic’s pace in Africa is quickening, with more than 5,000 new cases reported across the continent for a second straight day.

In an update on Friday morning, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said 5,083 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 129,565.

The death toll grew by 94 to reach 3,790, while recoveries increased by 2,319 to 53,414.

North Africa continues to be the continent’s hardest-hit region with 38,900 cases and 1,700 fatalities, followed by West Africa with 32,100 cases and 678 deaths.

Southern Africa is third on the list with 29,500 cases and 601 fatalities, ahead of East Africa with 14,800 cases and 397 deaths, and Central Africa with 14,300 cases and 368 fatalities.

With 27,403, South Africa has the most confirmed COVID-19 cases on the continent, followed by Egypt with 20,793.

Egypt, though, has the highest death toll – 845 – and South Africa is second with 577 fatalities.

In West Africa, Nigeria has 8,900 cases and 259 deaths, Ghana 7,300 cases and 34 fatalities; Guinea 3,600 cases and 22 deaths; Senegal 3,300 cases and 41 fatalities; and Ivory Coast has 2,600 cases and 32 deaths.

In Central Africa, 175 people have died of COVID-19 in Cameroon, 69 in Democratic Republic of the Congo, 65 in Chad, 19 in Republic of the Congo, 14 in Gabon, 12 in Equatorial Guinea, and 12 in Sao Tome and Principe.

In East Africa, Sudan has recorded 195 fatalities so far, Somalia 72, Kenya 58, Tanzania 21, Djibouti 20, and South Sudan 10.

The pandemic has killed nearly 360,500 people worldwide, with more than 5.81 million cases in 188 countries and regions, while recoveries are now above 2.42 million, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.