He Was Hospitalized, But His COVID-19 Test Was Negative. Days Later, He Tested Positive And Died.

A man who dedicated his career to education — spending 20 years at an all-girls private Catholic high school in Queens, rising the ranks from teacher and coach to athletic director and most recently to assistant principal of student life — has died as a result of the coronavirus.

Joseph Lewinger, 42, an assistant principal at the Mary Louis Academy in Queens, New York, died after spending more than 11 days in the hospital, including on a ventilator in the ICU.

According to a statement released by the school, Lewinger began feeling sick in early March when he woke up with a fever. At the time, he was told he did not qualify for to a COVID-19 test and that he should isolate himself at home and rest.

When his fever wouldn't break, Lewinger went to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and his test for the coronavirus came back negative.

"After a few days while still hospitalized, he was again tested for the coronavirus; this test did come back positive for COVID-19," the statement read.

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