ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The number of coronavirus cases in Africa reached 625,702 on Wednesday, according to an update by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

At least 13,797 patients have died so far across 54 countries in Africa, while 316,735 have recovered, the update said.

With 308,900 cases, Southern Africa remains the continent’s worst-hit region, followed by North Africa with 128,100 infections, West Africa 99,100, East Africa 48,600, and Central Africa with 41,000 cases.

South Africa has, by far, the highest number of cases among countries – 298,300 – and is followed by Egypt with 33,900.

The death toll is also the highest in South Africa at 4,300, while Egypt has recorded 4,000 fatalities to date.

At least 754 virus patients have died in Nigeria, 657 in Sudan, and 359 in Cameroon.

COVID-19 has claimed more than 579,500 lives in 188 countries and regions since emerging in China last December.

Over 13.35 million infections 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 worldwide have recovered so far.