The COVID-19 pandemic will likely kill at least 300,000 Africans and risks pushing 29 million into extreme poverty, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has said, calling for a $100 billion safety net for the continent.

Key points: Without interventions, the study calculated over 1.2 billion Africans would be infected

Without interventions, the study calculated over 1.2 billion Africans would be infected The highest number of cases so far have been confirmed in Egypt with 2,844 and 205 deaths

The highest number of cases so far have been confirmed in Egypt with 2,844 and 205 deaths The higher number of deaths so far are in Algeria, where 364 people had died

Africa's 54 countries have so far reported fewer than 20,000 confirmed cases of the disease, just a fraction of the more than 2 million cases reported globally. But the World Health Organisation warned on Thursday that Africa could see as many as 10 million cases in three to six months.

"To protect and build towards our shared prosperity, at least $100 billion is needed to immediately resource a health and social safety net response," the UNECA report stated.

UNECA is also backing a call by African finance ministers for an additional $100 billion in stimulus, which would include a halt to all external debt service.

The highest number of coronavirus deaths in Africa have been reported in Algeria, where 2,418 cases have been confirmed and 364 people had died as of Saturday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The highest number of cases were confirmed in Egypt with 2,844 and 205 deaths, followed by South Africa with 2,783 cases and 50 deaths.

Morocco has also been badly affected with 364 deaths and 2,418 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins.

Study says without intervention, 3.3 million would die

Most of Africa has already mandated social distancing measures, ranging from curfews and travel guidelines to full lockdowns. ( AP: Themba Hadebe )

The agency modelled four scenarios based on the level of preventive measures introduced by African governments.

In the total absence of such interventions, the study calculated over 1.2 billion Africans would be infected and 3.3 million would die this year. Africa has a total population of around 1.3 billion.

Most of Africa, however, has already mandated social distancing measures, ranging from curfews and travel guidelines in some countries to full lockdowns in others.

Yet even its best-case scenario, where governments introduce intense social distancing once a threshold of 0.2 deaths per 100,000 people per week is reached, Africa would see 122.8 million infections, 2.3 million hospitalisations and 300,000 deaths.

Combating the disease will be complicated by the fact that 36 per cent of Africans have no access to household washing facilities, and the continent counts just 1.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people.

France, in comparison, has 5.98 beds per 1,000 people.

The continent counts just 1.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. ( Reuters: Zohra Bensemra )

Africa's young demographic — nearly 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 25 — should help stave off the disease.

On the other hand, 56 per cent of the urban population is concentrated in overcrowded slums and many people are also vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malnutrition.

From 5 to 29 million people pushed into extreme poverty

Around 56 per cent of Africa's urban population is concentrated in overcrowded slums. ( AP )

Africa imports 94 per cent of its pharmaceuticals, the report said, noting that at least 71 countries have banned or limited exports of certain supplies deemed essential to fight the disease.

"In a best-case scenario … $44 billion would be required for testing, personal protective equipment, and to treat all those requiring hospitalisation," it stated.

However, that is money Africa does not have as the crisis could also shrink the continent's economy by up to 2.6 per cent.

"We estimate that between 5 million and 29 million people will be pushed below the extreme poverty line of $1.90 per day owing to the impact of COVID-19," the report said.

Nigeria alone will lose between $14 billion and $19.2 billion in revenues from oil exports this year. And the prices of other African commodities exports have plummeted as well.

Lockdowns in Europe and the United States also imperil Africa's $15 billion in annual textile and apparel exports as well as tourism, which accounts for 8.5 per cent of Africa's GDP.

Nigerian president's chief of staff dies from coronavirus

The Nigerian President's chief of staff, Abba Kyari, has died after contracting coronavirus.

The top official aide to Nigeria's 77-year-old President Muhammadu Buharim, Mr Kyari was one of the most powerful men in the country.

Mr Kyari had underlying health problems including diabetes and was aged in his 70s.

"The presidency regrets to announce the passage of the chief of staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari," presidency spokesman Garba Shehu wrote on Twitter.

"The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020."

He is the highest-profile person to die of COVID-19 in the West African country, which has 493 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

ABC/wires