COVID-19 cases are again surging across Africa after a slight dip, with deaths peaking week-on-week. According to the World Health Organization, weekly COVID-19 deaths across the continent reached a record peak, standing at 6,400, in the week ending Aug 1.
The figure translates to a 2 percent increase compared to the previous week, with South Africa and Tunisia accounting for over 55 percent of the fatalities.
To date, South Africa, which is the most affected country in the continent in terms of COVID-19 infection and death cases, has reported over 2.5 million infection cases and more than 74,000 deaths.
Tunisia on the other hand, is the third most affected country in Africa, with a total of 611,023 infection cases and 20,808 deaths as at Saturday.
The WHO said death trends are on the rise in 15 African countries, of which 12 have reported higher case fatality rates than the African average of 2.5 percent over the last month.
"It's a sad day for Africa. Our hearts go out to everyone who has lost friends and loved ones. Deaths have peaked week-on-week on the continent and after a slight dip, COVID-19 cases are surging again," Phionah Atuhebwe, the new vaccines introduction officer at the WHO regional office for Africa, said during a virtual news briefing on Thursday.
"The latest data tells us that Africa is still on the crest of the third wave, still recording more cases than in any earlier peak, and that we cannot take anything for granted," Atuhebwe said.
COVID-19 cases, on the other hand rose, by 19 percent to over 278, 000 in the week ending Aug 1, according to WHO data.
South Africa accounted for 29 percent of the cases, which remain close to Africa's record high of 286,000 weekly cases recorded in early July.
So far, 22 African countries have reported an over 20 percent increase in infection cases for at least two weeks running.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 African Union member states have reported the highly transmissible Delta variant, first reported in India.
The variant has been attributed to Africa's brutal COVID-19 third wave that has left hospitals overwhelmed and oxygen stocks exhausted.