More than 3.34 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 237,137 have died.

There are more than 40,000 cases of the deadly coronavirus across Africa, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention data released on Saturday.

The African continent has reported 40,749 cases and 1,689 deaths so far, according to the Africa CDC, while 13,383 have recovered from the illness.

The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose in several African countries as the continent continues to grapple with the pandemic.

The number of fatalities rose to 453 in Algeria, 406 in Egypt, 171 in Morocco, 116 in South Africa, 44 in Burkina Fasa, 36 in Sudan, 33 in Niger, 32 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 21 in Kenya, 15 in Ivory Coast, 3 in Libya and two in Benin.