The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the spread of the coronavirus pandemic is "accelerating" in Africa, which has so far been the least affected continent.

The outbreak is being driven by 10 countries, which accounted for two-thirds of about 200,000 confirmed cases on the continent, WHO Africa head Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said.

South Africa was the worst hit, with the situation in the Western Cape looking similar to Europe.

Most of the continent's COVID-19 cases are concentrated in and around capital cities, but infections are now also spreading outside major urban areas, Dr Moeti added.

She warned that the availability of key supplies, particularly test kits, remained one of the biggest challenges for the region.