Maasai elders, wearing traditional costumes, with face masks on, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, gather at their homestead within the Orboma Manyatta in Sekenani, near the Maasai Mara game reserve in Narok County, Kenya August 10, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa continues to rise steadily even as countries continue to ease restrictions amid economic downturns.
The latest data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention shows that by Thursday evening, the number of infections in Africa stood at 1,073,788 with a death toll of 24,256.
In recent weeks, the continent has seen a steady spike in new infections but the rise is still slower than other regions.
South Africa remains to be the worst-hit country in Africa, having registered 568,919 infections and 11,010 deaths.
The figures represent nearly 53 percent of Africa's confirmed infections and 45.4 percent of the fatalities.
The country's infections are the fifth highest globally, only shadowed by the United States, Brazil, India and Russia.
Egypt is Africa's second-worst-hit country by the pandemic, having recorded 95,963 infections and 5,085 deaths.
Other than the two countries, only Nigeria (47,743) and Ghana (41,725) have reported more than 40,000 COVID-19 cases.
Further on, 13 countries in Africa have reported more than 10,000 infections.
The latest reports come as the WORLD Health organization urged countries to ensure hand hygiene facilities are installed in learning institutions before any reopening to avoid further spread of the disease.
In a media briefing on Thursday, the WHO Director-General said "water, sanitation and hygiene facilities must be a priority. Our children's future depends upon it."