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Yeah, usage of the phrase "exponentially more" is widespread and always almost meaningless. It drives me crazy, especially as a CS theory person, where this phrase has a precise meaning.

It's gone the way of "literally"

I believe the intended meaning is “orders of magnitude more.”

It’s the common colloquial usage of “exponential” to mean “a lot”, rather than its technical meaning.

It basically is used in the same way "only a fraction of the populace supports the measure" just in the opposite direction of meaning. Both expressions have technical shortcomings; but are idiomatically understood.

Let’s just say it means many, many, many more deaths.