The number of COVID-19 infections in Africa have reached 1,444,318 as the continent continues to see a decline in new cases.
According to the latest data by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 35,144 deaths have also been reported.
South Africa remains the worst-affected country on the continent, having registered 668,529 cases and 16,312 fatalities.
Morocco is the second-hardest-hit country in Africa, with 112,522 and 1,998 deaths.
Egypt’s 102,625 infections and 5,853 fatalities makes it the third-worst-hit country on the continent.
No other African country has reported more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases.
Earlier this week, the Worls Health Organization acknowledged the decline in the continent’s cases, but warned against complacency in the fight against the virus.
“The downward trend that we have seen in Africa over the past two months is undoubtedly a positive development and speaks to the robust and decisive public health measures taken by governments across the region,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “But we must not become complacent. Other regions of the world have experienced similar trends only to find that as social and public health measures are relaxed, cases start ramping up again.”
Dr Moeti also noted that the slow spread of the virus in Africa may see the virus stay longer on the continent.
She urged African countries to tailor their responses to their situations as each country is experiencing different patterns.
“The slower spread of infection in the region means we expect the pandemic to continue to smoulder for some time, with occasional flare-ups,” said Dr Moeti.
