The Guardian newspaper reports that an autopsy conducted on the first known coronavirus fatality in the United States revealed that the female victim died of a heart attack, brought about by the virus.
Patricia Dowd, aged 57, died on February 6, several days after reporting flu-like symptoms. The San Francisco Chronicle obtained a copy of the autopsy report, which was reviewed by a forensic pathologist, who stated, "There's something abnormal about the fact that a perfectly normal heart has burst open ... The heart has ruptured. Normal hearts don't rupture."
The Guardian noted that the autopsy also revealed the presence of COVID-19 in the woman's trachea, lungs, and intestines.