(ANSA) - ROME, AUGUST 03 - Coronavirus deaths in Africa have increased by 89% in the last four weeks. This was stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), as reported by CNN.
Phionah Atuhebwe, who is responsible for introducing WHO vaccines for the African region, said the continent is seeing an unprecedented increase in coronavirus deaths.
"Covid-19 death rates have increased across Africa, with the highest weekly rate (6,343) to date reported during the week beginning July 19, 2021," said Atuhebwe. "Deaths increased 89%, from 13,242 to 24,987, in the last 28 days, compared to the previous 28 days," he added.
Atuhebwe explained that most of the new deaths in the past 28 days were reported by South Africa, which according to the official represents 64% of the rising death rate with 16,019 deaths, while North Africa accounts for 24% with 6,036 victims.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference on Friday that the pandemic's worsening death toll and rapid rate of infection are "driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant," which is considered more deadly than the original strain of the coronavirus. (HANDLE).
