THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AN EARLIER INFECTION VECTOR MAY MEAN MORE PEOPLE ARE IMMUNE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS DIED OF IT. First U.S. Coronavirus Death Happened Weeks Earlier Than Previously Thought

The Medical Examiner-Coroner performed autopsies on two individuals who died at home on February 6, 2020 and February 17, 2020. Samples from the two individuals were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today, the Medical Examiner-Coroner received confirmation from the CDC that tissue samples from both cases are positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) … These three individuals died at home during a time when very limited testing was available only through the CDC.