[2020] did loot change with the lastest a19 patch?

To my knowledge, You've been able to, With some incredible luck, Get non-primitive equipment since the start. It's just ridiculously small chances.. More or less so low that it's very unlikely to find anything before you're out of the primitive stage gamestage wise anyway.

Most commonly, peoples first find in the primitive era has been the classic toilet pistol. But I've found other non-primitive stuff on day 1 and 2 myself a couple times.