Africa records 259 daily coronavirus deaths

At least 259 people died of complications related to the coronavirus in the last 24 hours in Africa, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in an update on Thursday.

That brings the death toll to 52,490.

The number of people who have contracted the virus in the continent has crossed 2.19 million.

More than 1.86 million people have recovered, according to the latest figures.

The number of active cases in the continent tallies at 333,572.

Of the five geographical regions in the continent, Southern Africa is the worst hit with 894,700 cases. But the region also has the most recoveries at 814,200.

North Africa recorded 753,900 cases, East Africa 274,800, West Africa 206,900, and Central Africa 66,000.