Nigeria, July 3 -- Almost half of the over 400,000 persons infected by COVID-19 in the African continent have recovered from the disease, according data from the African Centre for Disease Control (ACDC).

Since the world's poorest continent saw its first case, in Egypt in mid-February, there has been some 414, 000 cases and about 10, 260 deaths so far - relatively few compared with other regions.

Prior to this, several projections had suggested that the contagion would balloon swiftly and instantly overwhelm Africa's shaky health systems once it hits the continent.

Africa could see 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus even under the best-case scenario, according to modeling by the Imperial College London.

Under the worst-case scenario ...