Peter Kotlár, the government's special envoy for investigating the management of the COVID pandemic, has stated that the excess mortality experienced in Slovakia throughout the pandemic is attributable to the nationwide testing undertaken. In an appearance on TA3 television during a discussion program, Kotlár asserted that he has provided comprehensive data and analyses to the government, which he claims have not been utilized effectively over the past two years. He emphasized the significant portion of his report dedicated to the issue of excess mortality, which is ready for submission but has been postponed, ostensibly due to the government's prioritization of other analyses, such as vaccine evaluations.

Throughout his statements, Kotlár has expressed frustration with the government's ability to interpret and act upon the available data related to pandemic management. He noted that the report analyzing failures during the pandemic includes legal and expert assessments and has been designed to offer clarity on the pandemic's trajectory and the management strategies employed. The delay in releasing this report, he notes, continues to hinder public understanding and accountability surrounding pandemic-related decisions.

With the debate over the pandemic management still ongoing, Kotlár's comments have sparked renewed discussions about the effectiveness of the government's responses to COVID-19. By attributing excess mortality to nationwide testing, he opens the floor to critiques of policy decisions made during the crisis, suggesting dire implications for future public health measures and governance. As Slovakia continues to grapple with the consequences of the pandemic, both the information in Kotlár's report and the ongoing political discourse surrounding it will likely shape the narrative about public health policy going forward.