A city official and an attorney for Sept. 11 victims announced new steps that families should take if someone with a 9/11-related illness dies due to the coronavirus. 

City Councilmember Robery Cornegy and Attorney Nick Pa-Pain on Thursday announced an important update from the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund. 

They said that family members have the right to request confidential medical information if their loved one passes away from coronavirus. 

Their message to people and their families who have Sept. 11-related illnesses after being exposed to toxins in the weeks and months after the attack is that the death certificate is not the last and final say on whether they should receive the victim’s compensation fund death benefits. 

They say that if someone dies of the coronavirus, it will typically state that on the death certificate, even if there were other contributing or underlying causes--such as Sept. 11-related cancer or respiratory illnesses.