First COVID-19 death in Brazil appears to have been in January.

[kiwibird]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-lat...eporting-story

The first recorded coronavirus-related death in Brazil happened almost two months earlier than previously thought, researchers say.

Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation examined cases of patients taken to hospital with respiratory problems.

They say molecular tests suggest one patient who died in Rio de Janeiro between 19 and 25 January had Covid-19.

The first previously known death in Brazil was that of a man on 16 March.

The scientists also say their research suggests the virus was being spread from person to person in Brazil in early February - weeks before the country's popular carnival street parties kicked off.