Could the true coronavirus death toll be much higher? CDC data reveals there have been 200,700 excess deaths during the pandemic - 54,000 more than the 161,000 confirmed COVID fatalities

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed there has been 200,700 excess deaths during the pandemic - surpassing the confirmed 162,000 COVID-19 death toll.

In August, the United States continued to amass the largest COVID-19 death toll across the world and the number topped 162,000 this week.  

But according to a New York Times analysis of CDC data, there have actually been 200,700 excess deaths in the country between March 15 to July 25. 

The estimated 200,700 excess deaths is 54,000 higher than the official CDC COVID-19 death toll during that period which was 146,254. 

Excess deaths by the CDC are defined as 'the difference between the observed numbers of deaths in specific time periods and expected numbers of deaths in the same time periods'. 

+10

The graph  above shows the weekly excess deaths recorded by the CDC between April and July

+10

Based on CDC data analyzed by The New York Times, places like New York City, New Jersey and New York state (excluding NYC) were among the top five places that recorded above normal levels of deaths during the pandemic 

A graph from the CDC shows the number of excess deaths in the United States between April and July this year compared to previous years

Excess Deaths from March 15 to July 25                                                                                                                                          Source: New York Times

State	% above normal		Excess Deaths	Reported COVID-19 deaths 3/15 to 7/25	Gap
*New York City	143		27,200	22,946	4,200
New Jersey	69		18,000	15,774	2,200
New York (excluding NYC)	40		14,200	9,347	4,900
Texas	18		13,400	5,002	8,500
California	14		13,000	8,423	5,000
Pennsylvania	28		10,500	7,167	5,800
Illinois	29		10,500	7,593	2,900
Michigan	28		9,900	6,402	3,500
Florida	13		9,700	5,773	4,000
Massachusetts	42		8,200	8,419	--
Arizona	27		6,100	3,288	2,800
Connecticut	75		5,900	4,186	1,700
Maryland	29		5,200	3,433	1,800
Ohio	12		4,900	3,132	1,800
Louisiana	32		4,900	3,508	1,400
Georgia	15		4,400	3,104	1,300
Virginia	16		3,900	2,074	1,800
Indiana	17		3,700	2,820	900
South Carolina	18		3,200	1,465	1,800
Mississippi	24		2,700	1,480	1,200
Colorado	18		2,600	1,793	800
Alabama	13		2,400	1,456	1,000
North Carolina	9		2,200	1,239	900
Missouri	9		2,000	1,224	800
Minnesota	12		1,800	1,6111	200
Tennessee	7		1,800	953	800
Washington State	8		1,700	1,552	100
Wisconsin	8		1,500	900	600
Puerto Rico	14		1,100	152	900
New Mexico	16		1,100	607	400
Kentucky	6		1,000	688	300
Washington D.C.	50		900	578	400
Delaware	31		800	927	400
Rhode Island	30		900	523	400
Nevada	9		800	733	100
Arkansas	8		800	399	400
Iowa	8		800	826	---
New Hampshire	15		600	409	200
Oregon	5		600	258	300
Oklahoma	5		600	421	200
Utah	8		500	278	200
Kansas	5		400	332	100
Nebraska	6		300	308	60
Vermont	16		300	56	200
Idaho	5		200	150	100
South Dakota	5		100	121	30
North Dakota	6		100	94	50
Maine	2		100	119	<10
West Virginia	2		100	84	40
Montana	3		100	37	80
Wyoming	7		100	24	90
Alaska	Below Normal		<0	10	----
Hawaii	Below Normal		<0	25	----

The NYT analysis went beyond just COVID-19-related deaths and included deaths from all causes during that period, per CDC reporting. 

This allows for a window into the United State's death toll that isn't dependent on the availability of COVID-19 tests in states or the accuracy of reporting in different regions. 

The CDC noted that some deaths related to COVID-19 may accidentally be counted under another category.

'As some deaths due to COVID-19 may be assigned to other causes of deaths (for example, if COVID-19 was not diagnosed or not mentioned on the death certificate), tracking all-cause mortality can provide information about whether an excess number of deaths is observed, even when COVID-19 mortality may be undercounted,' the agency wrote. 

+10

Only Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and West Virginia show death toll numbers that resemble previous years with West Virginia and Maine recording 100 excess deaths each and Hawaii and Alaska both recording zero 

+10

The process of counting COVID-19 deaths, and deaths in general during the pandemic, is also marred by several states and the CDC having a lag in reporting. 

The CDC's estimates are adjusted based on how mortality data has lagged in the past. 

But the numbers are clear, more Americans died from March 15 to July 25 this year than in previous years and the official COVID-19 death toll contributed to a large chunk of that.

This is at odds with the Trump administration's insistence that COVID-19 death toll numbers are greatly exaggerated and a number of conservatives have adopted the conspiracy that the numbers were inflated for political gain.  

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top White House coronavirus task force coordinator, previously dispelled that notion by noting the death toll is 'almost certainly higher' that is being reported.

+10

+10

All New York school districts can reopen, Governor Cuomo says

Loaded: 0%

Progress: 0%

0:00

Previous

Play

Skip

Mute

Current Time0:00

/

Duration Time1:53

Fullscreen

Need Text

Above average death rates have become common in a number of states, including New Jersey and New York.   

The data from the NYT shows that New York City, the country's original pandemic epicenter, has experienced the most significant increase of excess deaths at 27,000 - 143 percent higher than normal.

Similarly, the analysis determined that several states with deaths at least 10 percent above average level had increased. 

New Jersey recorded an estimated 18,000 excess deaths during that four month period, while New York State had 14,200 such deaths. 

Only Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and West Virginia show death toll numbers that resemble previous years with West Virginia and Maine recording 100 excess deaths each and Hawaii and Alaska both recording zero. 

There are currently more than 161,000 deaths in the U.S. from coronavirus and almost 5 million confirmed cases. 

+10

+10

Members of the 128th Brigade Support Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard work loading boxes of food into cars at a distribution for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Pennsylvania in April

+10

New York state, and specifically New York City, topped the analysis' data for having the highest number of excessive deaths during the pandemic so far. Pictured: Healthcare workers wheel a person outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease on April 5 - the height of the pandemic in the city

+10

Pictured: Cars form lines on April 4 at a federally-supported drive-thru testing site for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, which experience a high level of excessive deaths