[hnzix]

Undertesting might make the severe cases look more dangerous, but the media focus right now is "flattening the curve". By under-reporting the number of active cases, politicians can push for earlier reopening.

The risk is that untested asymptomatic or presymptomatic cases can then exponentially spread back through the community.

I do wholeheartedly agree with a sibling comment that self-reported data should be clearly separated from actual confirmed cases.