Coronavirus cases in Africa near 860,000

The number of coronavirus cases in Africa is now close to 860,000, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

According to a daily update, 859,237 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in 54 African countries, with fatalities now at 18,160 and 506,534 recoveries.

With 471,500 cases, Southern Africa remains the continent's worst-hit region, followed by North Africa with 151,200 infections, West Africa 122,000, East Africa 68,700, and Central Africa with 45,800 cases.

The virus has claimed at least 7,500 lives in Southern Africa, 6,400 in North Africa, 1,900 in West Africa, 1,600 in East Africa, and 896 in Central Africa.

According to the update, 282,100 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Southern Africa, 80,900 in West Africa, 76,400 in North Africa, 37,600 in East Africa, and 30,000 in Central Africa.

Across the world, COVID-19 has claimed over 655,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since emerging in China last December.

More than 16.53 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the US, Brazil, India, and Russia currently the worst-hit countries, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than half of all patients worldwide -- over 9.61 million -- have recovered so far.