COVID-19 deaths in Africa surge 43% week-on-week, WHO says

Africa recorded a 43% jump in COVID-19 deaths last week as infections and hospital admissions have risen and countries face shortages of oxygen and intensive-care beds, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. The continent's case fatality rate - the proportion of deaths among confirmed cases - stands at 2.6% against the global average of 2.2%, WHO Africa said in its weekly briefing. 'Africa's third wave continues its destructive pathway, pushing past yet another grim milestone as the continent's case count tops six million,' Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, told the briefing.