On Tuesday, when public health officials reported the death of a 17-year-old Lancaster boy due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, it sent shockwaves across the country as it was believed to be the first death of a minor during the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe.
Today, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County Department of Public Health director, announced that her team is no longer including the fatality in its coronavirus case count and that his death is currently under investigation.
Further, officials have put in a request to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to help determine a cause of death. Citing HIPAA regulations, she offered no further information on the case.