Face of Nation International : They both died in their homes in February, several days before COVID-19 was known to have killed anyone in the U.S. No one knew it was coronavirus that killed them – until now. Public health officials in Santa Clara County, California, on Wednesday provided more details about two residents who died because of COVID-19, one a 57-year-old woman who perished at home Feb. 6, the other one a 69-year-old man killed by the disease Feb. 17.
The cause of death in both instances was discovered through autopsies and confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fatalities were recorded several days before two deaths reported in Washington state Feb. 26, believed to be the first ones in the nation due to the coronavirus.
Because neither of the Santa Clara individuals had a recent history of travel or contact with COVID-19 patients, the new discovery indicates the virus was likely circulating in the U.S. earlier than previously thought, at least by early January.
