The Covid-19 infection rate in Gabon has shown a downward trend, indicating that the outbreak is flattening, according to the latest report by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef).

The agency said the infection rate in the central African country fell from above 20% at the onset of the pandemic, to around 12%. 

Gabon reported its first Covid-19 case on March 12. It currently has 6 433 infections and has recorded 46 coronavirus-related deaths.

Over 59 671 tests have been carried out, and the testing capacity substantially increased both in terms of equipment and provincial coverage as four new laboratories were operationalised in five out of nine provinces on July 22. 

“This benefited Port-Gentil, the economic capital and the second most populated province in the country, as well as Oyem where polyvalent testing centres were set up,” the agency said.

The death toll remains as low as 1%, with the recovery rate rising from 44% to 57%. 

The agency said that Gabon's Covid-19 national steering committee had confirmed the downward infection tendency via its first comprehensive assessment.

 The assessment had also confirmed the significant decrease of hospitalisation for patients, and a steady improvement in the recovery rate. 

The government lifted most of Gabon's lockdown measures by June 30, mainly with the restoration of interprovincial commuting and partially of international flights, hotel and restaurant re-openings, as well as the easing of nightly curfew hours. 

A new administration was named on July 16 in the most significant cabinet reshuffle since the outbreak of the pandemic, with the appointment for the first time ever of a female prime minister. 

Unicef said the newly appointed ministry of public health was "very familiar" with the overall Covid-19 response.  

“This cabinet reshuffle unfolds at a time where the government is weighing options and putting forth numerous policies, reforms, programmes and social schemes to limit the impact of the Covid-19 effects on the economy and on vulnerable communities’ livelihoods,” it said.