The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose from 49,352 from Wednesday afternoon to 51,698 as of Thursday morning, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Thursday.

Speaking to press on Thursday, John Nkengasong, Africa CDC Director, said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the continent had reached 51,698 as of Thursday morning. Africa registered 2,346 new COVID-19 cases during this stated period.

Nkengasong disclosed the continental disease and control prevention agency has noted the spread of the disease in 53 African countries.

"17,590 people who have been infected with the COVID-19 have recovered across the continent as of Thursday morning, marking about 1,903 new recoveries from the center's previous report on Wednesday afternoon."

"The number of COVID-19 cases is on an upward trend, with 14,757 new COVID-19 cases confirmed between April 30 and May 6," said Nkengasong.

The death toll due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the African continent also surged from 1,959 on Wednesday afternoon to 2,012 as of Thursday morning, according to the Africa CDC.

Nkengasong said West Africa has become the worst affected region over the last one week, registering around 36 percent of COVID-19 cases across the African continent.

"West Africa recorded 5,243 new COVID-19 cases over the last one week followed by North Africa with 4,492 COVID-19 new cases, Southern Africa with 2,557 new COVID-19 cases, Central Africa with 1,280 new COVID-19 cases and East Africa with 1,185 new COVID-19 cases respectively," he said.

The Africa CDC Director also said South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases so far with 7,800 cases, followed by Egypt at 7,500 cases.

The Africa CDC currently estimated fatality rates of COVID-19 cases to be around 3.9 percent of all cases in the continent.