Cases of Covid-19 have plummeted in Africa and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN has said, according to AFP.

Describing the 56-day flareup as Africa's “shortest upsurge yet,” the World Health Organisation's African regional office said newly reported cases fell by 20 per cent in the week to Sunday, while notified deaths dropped by eight percent.

In a statement issued after a weekly press briefing, the office also said South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, had seen cases trending downward over the past four weeks.

Only North Africa reported an increase in cases last week, “with a 55 percent spike”, it said.