A new analysis of blood samples has suggested that the coronavirus was in the U.S. as early as December 2019.

According to the AP report, the sampling is the latest and largest study taken from 24,000 Americans by the U.S. National Institutes of Health early last year.

The research suggests that the COVID-19 virus was present weeks before cases were first recognized. A scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described the study as "pretty consistent."