Sicily: officials suspected of falsifying Covid figures

scratch the numbers to prevent the region from being confined. This is what is criticized by several Sicilian officials. Three people, including the director general of the regional department for health activities, have already been arrested, reports International mail. In Italy, more or less strict health measures apply to a region, depending on whether it is classified as a white, yellow, orange or red zone. This alert level is established on the basis of the data reported by the local authorities. All of Italy is currently on red alert, except Sicily.

And for good reason: “The data relating to the trend of Covid infection that the region of Sicily sent to the Higher Institute of Health have been modified, reducing the number of positives and increasing the number of samples, thus conditioning the measures which would be taken from Rome to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 “, said the prosecutor of Trapani, specifying that “this would have happened at least 40 times from November to March 19”.

Numbers spread over several days

According to phone tapping revealed by Daily fact, the offending officials would have notably “spread” the number of cases or deaths of Covid-19 over several days. The number of tests carried out would also have been inflated. “I wish to reaffirm that in Sicily the epidemic has always been carefully monitored. […] We did not need to hide contagion or reduce the epidemiological impact, since precisely we have often anticipated the decisions of Rome and adopted more severe measures ”, affirmed Ruggero Razza, responsible for the health of this region. He submitted his resignation.

According to the Italian Ministry of Health, the Covid-19 epidemic has claimed 108,000 lives in the country. The majority of the country is subject to strict containment and Rome has just imposed a quarantine on travelers coming from the European Union.


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