I seem to recall a statement that he (or it may have been a similarly placed official) said that he only told the public what he thought they were "ready" to he

I seem to recall a statement that he (or it may have been a similarly placed official) said that he only told the public what he thought they were "ready" to hear -- e.g. that he knew the pandemic would last 18 months but said a few weeks or a few months to keep stringing people along.