Inaccurate figures on Covid death toll on June 11 led to extension of travel restrictions: Prez

18 June 2021 03:53 pm Views - 7299

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today inaccurate figures on Covid death toll reported on June 11 led to the extension of travel restrictions and stressed that it was vital to provide accurate and updated information to make correct decisions.

He said it was revealed through comprehensive investigations that only 15 deaths had occurred on June 11 whereas 101 deaths were reported that day.

He said travel restrictions,which were to be lifted on June 14, were extended till June 21 based on the information of 101 COVID deaths being reported on June 11.

The President said this at the meeting of the Special Committee on Covid Prevention at the Presidential Secretariat. 

The President said the health officials and intelligence services conducted a comprehensive investigation into the reporting of 101 deaths in a single day and it was revealed that some deaths had occurred for a period of four months from February 6 to June 11 and some deaths had been reported twice.