I don't say that to diminish the importance of testing, my point is that the anecdotes aren't necessarily very informative.
I understand that the symptoms are pretty ordinary and there are a lot of pathogens which could cause it. And you're right, all I have are anecdotes.
My own cough is still going on for almost two weeks now. I'm pretty sure that I got it from a coughing man on my commuting train. Four days later I had a sore throat and on the fifth day I had this cough. If this person was tested, and was positive, there's no chance they could find me.
I wouldn't double down on an exact number, but it's clear enough that there are lots of negative tests happening in the US.
From the actual descriptions of patients that have gone through it and been hospitalized, there are much worse symptoms, and maybe they should be addressed more immediately. The main one I've come across is the heavy chest pressure. I don't understand why, in the US at least, there isn't more specific messaging so that we can make sure people with more severe or COVID-19-related symptoms have the ability to get through. Not to mention the BS here of having to 'call your doctor' first before getting seen. There are a lot of people out there now without primary care doctors or that can't afford a visit. There have been no federal instructions on how we would get waivers for visits, testing, and possible hospitalization. If you've ever had to fight with medical billing in the US, it's frustrating and will be even more so after all this dies down.
On a side-note:
I was turned away from donating blood yesterday because I admitted to having a runny nose and a bit drainage that caused some coughing. I have seasonal allergies - it's March, it's been raining and plants are blooming, etc. I understand the caution but I had no fever (tested at 36.6 C / 97.8 F), which is about the same temp I've had for the past week (I've tested that and my blood pressure daily, just in case). I was a bit frustrated, because I really wanted to do something immediate to give back but so be it.
While walking home, it did make me wonder why they even bother taking 'healthy' people who could be asymptomatic if it's such a concern. They admitted to having no way to test the blood.
I think there's a lot that needs to be fixed and I hope that this crisis will provide a better future for us all. Epidemics aren't going to go away. We can learn and plan better.