The death toll from COVID-19 may have been underestimated by at least 35%

The number of deaths (mortality) that COVID-19 is responsible for can be counted in different ways. Counts based only on the 'cause of death' recorded on a death certificate may not capture deaths from undiagnosed COVID-19, or deaths as a result of a strained care system (delaying investigation and care), for example. It is likely that COVID-19 related deaths have been underestimated by at least 35%.

Deaths related to COVID-19 may be better accounted for by looking at 'excess mortality', which is the difference between the actual and expected deaths from all causes.

The full paper on this issue can be read here in the European Respiratory Journal Open Research: https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/7/1/00766-2020