Why would they bother worrying about the actual number of infections/deaths? Just change the testing directives until they get the politically desirable results. Then blame opposition for any increases, take credit for any decreases.

If I had to guess, it is because the data is already there, so why fudge it when it already fits the narrative? Tell a half-truth so in the future if their totalitarian measures come bite them in the ass they can argue plausible deniability.