I’m afraid the Chinese govt’s reporting on coronavirus exposure/death is just about as accurate.
The whole Asian culture of saving face and not wanting to admit one is wrong, or tell somebody else that they are wrong is probably at play here too.
Like a child spilling the sugar everywhere and trying to hide it from mom by sweeping it under the cabinet.
Four(?) weeks later, mom walks in and a million ants on her floor! (Yes - this really happened!)