New data shows first U.S. coronavirus death earlier than thought

Santa Clara County Public Health in California announced Tuesday that autopsy results found a patient who died on Feb. 6 had the novel coronavirus. Why it matters: The first known death from COVID-19 in the U.S. was declared on Feb. 29 to be a patient in Washington state. A second person who died in Santa Clara on Feb. 17 was also found to have the virus.