Africa has recorded a 43 percent rise in COVID-19 deaths as hospital admissions increase across the continent. According to the World Health Organization Africa Region, the death toll increased to over 6,200 last week compared to less than 4,400 the previous week. 

The World Health Organization says COVID-19 cases have continued to rise, with Africa hitting the six million mark.

And as CGTN's Daniel Arapmoi gathered from the field, in the month of June alone, the continent recorded an additional 1 million infections.

According to the WHO, the surge is as a result of public fatigue and the fast-spreading variants.

"As this surge sweeps across Africa, we are witnessing the brutal cost in life lost. Deaths have climbed steeply for the past five weeks jumping forty percent in the past week, this is a clear warning of how hospitals are at a breaking point." In all 153,000 people have sadly died, submits Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Furthermore 83 percent of the new deaths recorded in the past week in Africa were recorded in just 5 countries-- Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.

Africa's case fatality rate currently stands at 2.6 percent against the global average of 2.2 percent.

"The number one priority for African countries is boosting oxygen production so that we can give critically hill patients a fighting chance. Effective treatment is the last line of defense against COVID-19 and it must not crumble. As WHO, we are working with countries to improve treatment and critical care capacities," adds Dr. Moeti.

The continent has so far inoculated 52 million people since vaccine rollouts began from March.