Africa’s COVID-19 cases hit 100,664 as 2,000 patients recover in Nigeria

On Friday, the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that with 4,673 new COVID-19 cases confirmed, a total of 100,664 cases have now been confirmed in 54 countries across Africa.

The index case of coronavirus was recorded in Africa on February 14, when the Egyptian health ministry confirmed its first COVID-19 patient.

North Africa accounts for the highest number on the continent with 31,321 confirmed cases, followed by West Africa with 27,303 cases, while Africa’s south accounts for the third-highest figure with 20,681 cases.

Eastern and Central Africa have 11,047 and 10,312 confirmed cases, respectively. A total of 3,105 deaths have also been recorded in Africa, while 39,543 people have recovered from COVID-19.

Northern Africa also has the highest number of recoveries and deaths with 1,523 fatalities and 13,550 persons discharged in the region.

As of 6pm on May 22, South Africa accounted for the highest figure with 19,137 confirmed cases, followed by Egypt with 15,003 cases.

However, Egypt has recorded the most fatalities with 696 deaths. Lesotho, which is the latest country to record a case in Africa, still has only one confirmed case.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 recoveries in Nigeria exceeded 2,000 on Friday. This is just as 245 new cases were confirmed in 21 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

In an announcement on its Twitter handle at 11:35pm on Friday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also confirmed 10 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 221 – the highest in the West African region.

However, 100 more COVID-19 patients were discharged and a total of 2,007 patients have now been discharged.

A total of 7,261 COVID-19 cases have now been confirmed in 34 states and the FCT.