Africa’s coronavirus cases pass 1.8 million, deaths near 44,500

Travellers queue to buy bus tickets while adhering to social distancing measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus at the Namirembe Bus Park in Kampala, Uganda, on June 04, 2020, the first day of re-opening public transport. – The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni announced to lift the suspension of public transport which has been suspended since March 22, 2020, but all borders still remain closed except for limited goods and authorised emergency flights. (Photo by Badru KATUMBA / AFP) (Photo by BADRU KATUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa surpassed the 1.8 million mark on Saturday, according to figures from the Africa CDC, to stand at 1,856,261.

The number of deaths stood at 44,447, while the number of recoveries was 1,556,290.

Southern Africa remained the worst-affected region with 820,036 confirmed cases as South Africa also remained the country with the highest number of cases with a total of 734,175 cases to date, including 675,593 recoveries and 19,749 deaths.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) previously urged African countries to exercise caution regarding the coronavirus pandemic despite registering a general downward trend in its curve in the last few months.

W.H.O. Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti warned that the decline in the number of cases had plateaued and the continent was at a “pivotal moment”.