Hennepin County Jail Inmate Tests Positive For Coronavirus

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN — Authorities say an inmate who was brought into the Hennepin County Jail Friday has tested positive for the new coronavirus. Admissions staff did an assessment and determined that the inmate had symptoms that warranted a test

He was tested and placed into isolation pending test results. On Sunday, the test showed that the inmate tested positive.

That inmate has since been released from custody, is aware of the test results and stated he would self-isolate at home.

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"We are optimistic that the steps that we have employed to prevent the spread will have been successful," the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "We continue to monitor those who may have been in contact with this inmate to ensure that the risk of contagious exposure is mitigated."

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has taken several steps in response to the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota:

• Working with partners in law enforcement to reduce the number of people being brought into the jail, by finding alternatives to custodial arrests;
• Working with partners in the bench and the bar to release non-violent inmates whose release causes lowest risk to the community;
• Suspension of programming and social visitation that might allow persons who have been exposed to the virus to enter the facility;
• Daily temperature / questionnaire screening of all personnel working at the facility;
• Training of personnel in the use of personal protective equipment and sanitation procedures;
• Screening of all inmates coming into the facility and isolation of those inmates with potential exposure from inmates who have been asymptomatic for extended periods;
• Continued isolation of inmates who have exhibited symptoms or may have been exposed to COVID-19;
• Physical distancing of inmates from one another by using single cell assignments when available.

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