The Associated Press reports his mother, former Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson, said her son died hours after being transported to the hospital for breathing problems and the family suspected he suffered from COVID-19, but he had not been tested for the virus that causes the disease. A cause of death was not immediately released.
He was not tested, so he may not have had it.
Doesn't matter. If they suspect it was COVID-19, it will be recorded as such regardless of the actual cause.
It may have been covid or acute congestive heart failure. Who knows?