London, April 19, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Coronavirus cases in two leading African countries Egypt and South Africa, have now passed three thousand (3000) mark

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Egypt reported 188 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, the highest single-day rise to date, to bring the country’s total number of confirmed cases to 3,032.

On same Saturday, South Africa announced official record of additional 251 new case, the highest single day increase South Africa has had since its first confirmed case on March 5 bringing the total infection in the country to  3034, two more than Egypt

While South Africa announced two more deaths occasioned by the deadly virus bringing the total to 52, total number of COVID-19 deaths in Egypt is three time higher standing at 224 as at Saturday after announcing 19 death.

Spokesman of Health Ministry in Egypt, Khaled Megahed said in a statement that the newly-detected 188 cases were all Egyptians and were detected through the ministry’s investigation and contact tracing protocols.

khaled also said 55 Egyptians have fully recovered and left isolation hospitals on Saturday, which brings the total number of recoveries from the virus so far to 701.

The number of people whose test results have turned from positive to negative, including the recoveries, has now reached 980.

According to the ministry’s reported figures, Egypt has approximately conducted 55,000 coronavirus tests through 25 central laboratories nationwide dedicated to perform tests for the respiratory disease.

Health Minister Hala Zayed said in a recent statement that Egypt has 14 functioning quarantine hospitals, out of 30 hospitals already prepared for the current phase, with 2,241 beds and 407 ICU beds, and are equipped with 346 ventilators.

South Africa is currently on Day 23 of its lockdown after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a two week extension last week. 

The lockdown is expected to end at the end of April, but Ramaphosa could extend it further if his team of advisors deems it necessary. 

Coronavirus cases in Africa have now surpassed the 20,000 mark as countries continue to record more infections.

#COVID2019 update (9 am EAT 18 April 2020). 52 @_AfricanUnion Member States reporting 19895 cases, 1016 deaths, and 4642 recoveries pic.twitter.com/0c5MdJJPvO

— Africa CDC (@AfricaCDC) April 18, 2020

The continent has also recorded over 1,000 deaths across 52 countries as at April 18, 2020.

North (8746) and West (4404) African sub-regions have now recorded more cases than other parts of the continent.