Fauci says actual coronavirus death toll is likely higher than official numbers

During testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in the U.S. is likely higher than the official death toll. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 80,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S.

Video Transcript

BERNIE SANDERS: The official statistic, Dr. Fauci, is that 80,000 Americans have died from the pandemic. There are some epidemiologists who suggest the number may be 50% higher than that. What do you think?

ANTHONY FAUCI: I'm not sure, Senator Sanders, if it's going to be 50% higher, but most of us feel that the number of deaths are likely higher than that number because given the situation, particularly in New York City when they were really strapped with a very serious challenge to their health-care system, that there may have been people who died at home who did have COVID who were not counted as COVID because they never really got to the hospital.

So in direct answer to your question, I think you are correct that the number is likely higher. I don't know exactly what percent higher, but almost certainly it's higher.