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The family of a 13-year-old boy is left grieving and confused after the teen tested negative for the coronavirus yet died a few days later in the United States.
Maxx Cheng had been isolating in his room after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms including fever, cough, nausea, chest pains and vomiting, as per CBS-owned KCBS-TV last Friday, July 17.
According to his sister Charlotte Cheng, his younger brother began feeling ill on July 4. A few days later their mother got Maxx tested for the coronavirus and the result came back negative.
“His symptoms matched, but then the test came out negative,” Charlotte was quoted as saying. “So we were a little bit confused.”
The boy did not take any chances and continued self-isolating in his room due to his ongoing symptoms. Maxx passed away on July 16, Thursday, despite showing signs of recovery the previous week.
Charlotte told the local news outlet that Maxx’s fever had subsided three days before his death and that he almost had no cough. An autopsy report is expected to arrive in the days to come to determine whether or not Maxx had COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Nichole Weinstein, a family friend, set up a GoFundMe page last Saturday, July 18, to help the boy’s family.
Before his untimely death, Maxx was described as an “athletic, intelligent, funny and mature” young man, according to the page. He also left behind a twin brother named Leo. The funds collected from the initiative will go to Maxx’s funeral arrangements and any additional donations will be added to his twin’s and Charlotte’s college funds. Cha Lino/JB
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