South Africa has dropped to seventh among countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases globally as new cases continue to reduce, official data shows.

The US, India, Brazil, Russia, Peru and Columbia are the top six nations in confirmed cases.

South Africa reported 1,633 new cases on Sunday, taking the total number of cases to 638,517. Its death toll from the pandemic stands at 14,889.

It has dropped two places in a span of one week after being overtaken by Peru, which neighbours Colombia, early last week. Peru currently has 676,848 confirmed cases.

South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says although the numbers are reducing, the country is not over the worst yet, fearing that there could be a resurgence.

“South Africans need to continue with containment measures in order to prevent a second wave,” he told state broadcaster SABC on Monday.