President says inaccurate data on COVID deaths forced extension of restrictions

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that incorrect data on COVID-19 deaths forced the decision to extend the travel restrictions which was to be lifted on 14th June.

“Though it was decided to lift travel restrictions on June 14, steps were taken to extend the restrictions until June 21 based on the data received that 101 deaths were reported on June 11,” said the President on Friday (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The President at a meeting with the Special COVID-19 Committee extensively elaborated on the data obtained by the Health sector and the Intelligence Unit following a thorough investigation conducted into the causes of deaths.

“It was also revealed that some of the deaths occurred during the four-month period from February 06 to June 11, and death certificates had also been issued. Information on certain deaths was found to have been mentioned twice,” he told the COVID-19 Committee.

The President said that it was revealed following an in-depth investigation that the death toll occurred on June 11 was not 101 but only 15.

The President emphasized that accuracy and timeliness in the provision of data is essential for making the right decisions.