South Africa records one million coronavirus cases

South Africa has become the first African nation to record one million coronavirus cases, according to new data published by the country’s Health Ministry, AFP reported.

Currently suffering a second wave of infections, of which the majority are a new variant of the coronavirus, South Africa is the hardest hit country on the African continent, with 1,004,413 infections and 26,735 deaths, the data showed.

As of 1900 GMT, a total 2,658,646 cases were recorded in Africa and 62,649 fatalities, according to an AFP tally.

Last week, South Africa recorded a daily average of 11,700 new infections, up 39 percent over the previous week.

For three consecutive days, from Wednesday until Friday, the daily number of new cases topped 14,000, but dropped sharply again on Saturday and Sunday, AFP reported.

Authorities are considering reimposing restrictions to rein in the spread of the virus, and President Cyril Ramaphosa could give a television address later this week.