Ethiopia records highest single-day spike in COVID-19 infections

CGTN

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Habtamu Kehali, respiratory therapist gives a training on the mechanical ventilator for health professionals as part of preparations to treat COVID-19 patients at St. Peter's hospital on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia May 2, 2020. Picture taken May 2, 2020. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

Ethiopia on Friday announced 760 new COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day increase in infections since reporting its first case on 13 March.

The health ministry said it had conducted 7,264 tests and 760 had returned positive, taking the country's total tally to 12,693.

The East African country is now one of only ten states on the continent that have reported more than 12,000 COVID-19 cases.

The health ministry also announced three new deaths, taking the total fatalities to 200.

Africa has seen a recent spike in daily new cases, with data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention showing it is approaching the 800,000 mark.

South Africa remains the worst affected country in the continent by the pandemic, having reported 408,052 cases and 6,093 fatalities.

Other than Ethiopia, only nine other countries in Africa have reported 200 or more COVID-19 deaths.