The number of deaths in Africa from the coronavirus surpassed the 40,000 mark, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, the total deaths reported to the W.H.O. stood at 40,225, with South Africa accounting for the highest proportion in the continent with 18,656 (46.38 percent).

The other worst-affected countries are Egypt with 6,142 (15.27 percent) and Morocco with 3,027 (7.53 percent).

Only three other countries in the whole continent (Algeria, Ethiopia and Nigeria) have reported more than 1,000 deaths. Eritrea and Seychelles are the only countries, according to the figures, not to have recorded any Covid-19-related death while Burundi (7) and Comoros (7) have recorded less than 10 deaths.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in the continent stood at 1,665,653. Of those cases, South Africa has the highest number with 706,304 cases (42.4 percent). Only Egypt (105,705) and Morocco (179,003) have recorded more than 100,000 cases while another four countries have reported more than 50,000 cases. They are; Algeria, Ethiopia, Libya ad Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) recently urged African countries to exercise caution regarding the coronavirus pandemic despite registering a downward trend in its curve during the past 90 days.

Africa continues to see contrasting statistics in different parts as some countries report declining tallies while others see a resurgence in the numbers of cases.

The W.H.O. has also repeatedly made a call to the world not to lock out or leave behind Africa when a vaccine for the coronavirus is eventually found.

As efforts to find for a vaccine for the deadly virus continue, there is concern that wealthier nations could scoop promising medicines against the new coronavirus, leaving developing countries, particularly those in Africa, empty-handed.

(With input from agencies)