George Floyd Had Coronavirus, Autopsy Finds, But It Wasn’t A Factor In His Death

A postmortem nasal swab found that Floyd had COVID-19 when he died, according to the autopsy report, which was released publicly with permission from Floyd’s family.

The medical examiner said Floyd tested positive for the disease on April 3 and was likely asymptomatic when he died.

Covid-19 has disproportionately impacted black Americans and Minnesota is no different: Blacks make up 5.3% of the state population, but account for 22% of total Covid-19 cases in the state, according to Minnesota Health Department data.

The toxicology report said Floyd had fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system when he died, as well as cannabis compounds and morphine; a press release summarizing the report Monday listed arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, “fentanyl intoxication” and “recent methamphetamine use” as “other significant conditions” but not “cause of death.”

The medical examiner found Floyd died of cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained, ruling his death a homicide—a different finding than a separate autopsy commissioned by Floyd’s family, which found the cause of death to be asphyxia.