The autopsy report has revealed George Floyd, the black man who died after a police officer pressed a knee against his neck for several minutes, had previously tested positive for the coronavirus.

The report found that Floyd died from cardiac arrest during application of neck compression, also noting as significant conditions arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease; fentanyl intoxication; and recent methamphetamine use.

However, an independent autopsy commissioned by Floyd's family found that the evidence is consistent with mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death, with neck compression restricting blood flow to the brain, and back compression restricting breathing.

On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee to Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street; two other officers further restrained Floyd while a fourth prevented onlookers from intervening. During the final three minutes Floyd was motionless and had no pulse, but officers made no attempt to revive him and Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even as arriving emergency medical technicians attempted to treat him.

After Floyd's death, demonstrations and protests against use of excessive force by police officers and lack of police accountability were held globally. Additional protests developed in over 400 cities throughout all 50 American states and internationally.