The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent surpassed 267,519 as of Thursday afternoon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Africa CDC in its latest situation update said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose from 259,036 on Wednesday afternoon to 267,519 as of Thursday afternoon.

The continental disease control and prevention agency also disclosed that the death toll from the pandemic also rose from 6,999 on Wednesday to 7,197 as of Thursday afternoon.

The Africa CDC, which noted that the virus had spread into 54 African countries, said that some 122,661 people who were infected with COVID-19 had recovered across the continent as of the stated period.

Amid the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the African continent, the highly affected African countries include South Africa with 80,412 confirmed cases, Egypt with 49,219 confirmed cases, Nigeria with 17,735 confirmed cases, Ghana with 12,590 confirmed cases, and Algeria with 11,268 confirmed cases, it was noted.

When population is taken into consideration, Djibouti, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea, are reporting the most cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population within the continent, according to the Africa CDC.

The Africa CDC also said that the Southern Africa region is now the most affected area across the continent in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, overtaking the Northern Africa region. Western Africa region is the third-most affected area in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases.

According to figures from the Africa CDC, during the past week, some 55,612 new COVID-19 cases have been reported across the continent, which the Africa CDC said has registered a 27 percent increase in new COVID-19 cases compared to what was reported in the previous week.

Five countries account for 63 percent of the new COVID-19 cases reported over the past week that are South Africa with 34 percent, Egypt with 16 percent, Nigeria with 6 percent, Ghana with 4 percent, and Cameroon with 3 percent, it was noted.

Early this week, the Africa CDC revealed that some 43 African countries are under full border closure due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, according to the Africa CDC.

In addition to the 43 countries under full border closure, night-time curfew has been activated across 35 countries in an effort to halt the spread of the infectious virus, it was noted.

The Africa CDC also noted that 54 African countries are practicing limited public gathering, some 38 countries have exercised country-wide closure of educational institutions, while limited prison and hospital visits has been also ordered across 20 countries.

Some seven countries have imposed international air traffic closures, while two countries have imposed travel restrictions to and from specific countries, and two others have also activated entry/exit restrictions, according to the Africa CDC.

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