The number of COVID-19 infections in Africa surpassed the three million mark on Sunday as countries on the continent continue their efforts to curb further spread of the virus.

According to the latest data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent had recorded 3,021,769 cases by Sunday afternoon with a death toll of 72,121.

South Africa remains the hardest-hit country with a total of 1,214,176 cases and 32,824.

The country accounts for 40.18 percent of the continent’s caseload and 45.51 percent o its fatalities.

South Africa's tower well over the figures reported by the rest of African countries. Morocco's 451,637 cases are the second-highest on the continent, but are well below half the number reported by the South Africa.

Besides the two counties, only five other African countries have registered more than 100,000 infections; Tunisia (157,514), Egypt (148,799), Ethiopia (127,792), Libya (104,745) and Algeria (101,913).

In terms of virus-related deaths, Egypt's 8,142 fatalities are the second-highest in Africa, less than a quarter of the tally registered by South Africa.

A total of ten African countries have recorded more than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths.

The figures from the Africa CDC also showed that the continent had reported 2,450,492 successful recoveries as of Sunday.