South Africa braced for a nationwide military-patrolled lockdown on Thursday, joining other African countries imposing strict curfews and shutdowns in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus across the continent, AFP reports.

Some 57 million people will be restricted to their homes during South Africa's three-week total lockdown that begins at midnight.

Kenya, Rwanda and Mali are some of the African countries that have imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus with the continent's confirmed cases creeping towards 3,000 and more than 70 deaths so far.

Although Africa's toll is far lower than in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, health experts say the world's poorest continent is especially vulnerable and the figures likely fall far short of the reality.