An illustration of the coronavirus. | CDC via AP First recorded Covid death in U.S. was from massive heart attack, autopsy says

SAN FRANCISCO — A Santa Clara County woman who is the earliest recorded death from Covid-19 in the United States died of a massive heart attack, according to an autopsy conducted by the county's medical examiner and obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The 57-year-old woman, who died Feb. 6, had evidence of the coronavirus infection in her heart, trachea, lungs and intestines, according to an autopsy report posted Saturday by the Chronicle that was completed Feb. 7, but not signed until April 23.


County officials announced the death earlier this week, making it the first known death in the country associated with the virus and indicating Covid-19 was likely circulating earlier in the country than previously thought. The death came three weeks before Washington state reported its Feb. 28 death, which until this week was considered the nation's first.

The woman had reported flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to her death, the autopsy says. She was mildly obese and had a mildly enlarged heart, according to the autopsy, but had no coronary heart disease or clotting that would have caused a heart attack. The autopsy found that blood had collected in the sac around her heart, leading to pressure on the heart that caused it to rupture.

Santa Clara County health officials did not respond Saturday afternoon to a request for comment.