Autopsy report: George Floyd tested positive for COVID-19

(CNN) - African American, George Floyd, whose death in police custody has sparked massive protests throughout the United States of America, tested positive for COVID-19 in a new autopsy report released today. 

The post-mortem nasal swab was found to be “positive for 2019-nCoV RNA,” said the report, using another term used for Covid-19.

Minnesota Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker said the type of test performed for the autopsy, called PCR, can show a positive result “for weeks after the onset and resolution of clinical disease.” 

As a result, Baker said, “the autopsy result most likely reflects asymptomatic but persistent PCR positivity from the previous infection” -- meaning the virus played no known role in Floyd’s death and he was unlikely to have been contagious.

New charges brought against officers involved

(BBC) - In other developments, new charges were announced against all of the sacked police officers present at the death of Floyd in Minneapolis.

The charge against Derek Chauvin were elevated to second-degree murder, court documents show. The other three officers, previously uncharged, now face counts of aiding and abetting murder.

Floyd's death has sparked huge protests across the US against racism and the police killings of black Americans.

The vast majority of demonstrations over the past eight days have been peaceful, but some have turned violent and curfews have been imposed in a number of cities.

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Source: BBC/CNN.