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A FRIEND of the first child to die of COVID-19 said no one at the teen's funeral knew the boy had coronavirus when they attended the service.

In addition to mourners being left in the dark about the cause of boy's death, the California child's father is upset because he also tested positive for the virus and is worried he may have passed it to others at the service, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said.

 A California street is nearly empty as the state is under stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic
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A California street is nearly empty as the state is under stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemicCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris confirmed the boy's father said no one knew the boy was confirmed to have the virus until after the funeral
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Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris confirmed the boy's father said no one knew the boy was confirmed to have the virus until after the funeralCredit: Gary Friedman
 A California street is empty amid as people stay home and self-isolate
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A California street is empty amid as people stay home and self-isolateCredit: Alamy Live News

Paris spoke with the boy's father and confirmed that no one was told he had coronavirus until after his funeral.

"They had people at the funeral and nobody knew, " Parris said.

The teen – who was the first US child to succumb to coronavirus – was only diagnosed with the deadly infection after he died as he did not “meet the criteria” for the test, the Sun has learned.

Parris said Wednesday that the teenager "did not meet the criteria for public health to OK a test and the only time he was tested was after he died."

LA Mayor Erioc Garcetti also responded to the death, stating overnight: "I was informed by the county that this individual did not have pre-existing conditions. It’s a sober reminder that anybody can die from this disease."

The Sun can report that the minor was a 17-year-old who went to hospital with respiratory problems, but was denied testing.

He then went to Antelope Valley Hospital which is where he ultimately died of septic shock, before he was diagnosed with coronavirus post-mortem.

The Global Sepsis Alliance has stated that COVID-19 can cause sepsis, which can lead to septic shock.

Speaking to the Sun, Mayor Parris said: "They had the funeral already. His family has no idea he was the boy in the news.
“The family didn’t know about COVID-19. They were shaking hands at the funeral.”

The father has been trying to get tested but to no avail, the mayor said. “He has just been told to self-quarantine,” Parris said

 The teen went to Antelope Valley Hospital which is where he ultimately died of septic shock, before he was diagnosed with coronavirus post-mortem
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The teen went to Antelope Valley Hospital which is where he ultimately died of septic shock, before he was diagnosed with coronavirus post-mortemCredit: AV Hospital
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Speaking to Fox 11 on Wednesday, Mayor Rex Pariss said the city has purchased 100,000 coronavirus test kits.

He also advised on social media: "Keep your children home. This is no longer an old people's disease."

Governor of California Gavin Newsom reiterated this sentiment, revealing that half of the cases in the state are individuals between the ages of 18 to 49.

In a statement released overnight, LA County health officials said: "Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19, the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality."

Dr Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Director, said: "Each loss we experience in LA County is tragic, and we are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones who've had to endure this tragedy"

 Dr Barbara Ferrer said: 'Each loss we experience in LA County is tragic, and we are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones who've had to endure this tragedy'
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Dr Barbara Ferrer said: 'Each loss we experience in LA County is tragic, and we are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones who've had to endure this tragedy'Credit: AP:Associated Press
 A sign shows different establishments that are closed to the public in Los Angeles, California due to the coronavirus pandemic
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A sign shows different establishments that are closed to the public in Los Angeles, California due to the coronavirus pandemicCredit: Alamy Live News

"Patient privacy prevents our offering further details at this time.”

Public health officials said the death of the Lancaster boy is "a devastating reminder that COVID-19 infects people of all ages."

LA County health officials wrote in a press release on Tuesday that the minor was one of three new deaths.

The officials said: "One of the individuals was a youth under the age of 18."

Dr Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Director, said: "Each loss we experience in LA County is tragic, and we are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones who've had to endure this tragedy.

"While Public Health is doing everything possible to mitigate the impact of this disease in our community, we can only flatten the curve if EVERYONE takes social distancing seriously and adheres to all isolation and quarantine orders issued by our Health Officer.”

The release also stated that there are 10 coronavirus cases in the age group of 0 to 17 in the Los Angeles County.

Currently, 42% of those infected with the illness in the county are aged between 18 to 40.

The news of the minor's death came on the same day that the US coronavirus death toll topped 600.

Despite the rise in deaths, Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he wants the country reopened by Easter.

In a virtual town hall meeting, the president said: "Easter is a very special day for me, and I see it sort of in that timeline that I'm thinking about.

“Wouldn’t it be great to have all of the churches full? …Easter Sunday and you’ll have packed churches all over our country.”

The total number of coronavirus fatalities now stands at 802 in America alone but is expected to rise, Dr Jermone Adams warned on Monday.


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