Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Rob Allen, 612-919-5918
Hennepin County Sheriff's Offfice Statement on COVID-19 Preparation
March 11, 2020 (Minneapolis) - The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with federal, state, county, and local experts to respond to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past several years, the HCSO has responded to outbreaks such as SARS and H1N1, and we have developed extensive written plans to address these risks to public health.
“At present, the public shouldn’t see any big difference in the way HCSO operates,” said Sheriff Dave Hutchinson. “That said, conditions are continually changing. We have a team of people on staff who are in constant communication with medical experts, and we are ready to adapt to changing conditions as we need to. We are confident in our ability to serve the public, provide appropriate medical care to the inmates in our jail, and to ensure that our staff has access to the best precautions available to avoid contracting this illness. It is a very challenging time, and we hope that everyone can come together and follow the guidelines offered by the CDC.”
Services provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Water Patrol, 911 Dispatch, Court Services and other public-facing units are not currently affected in any way by the presence of COVID-19 in Minnesota. Additional precautions are being taken in the Hennepin County Jail, such as screening incoming individuals for signs of COVID-19 infection. At this time, visiting of inmates in the jail has not been impacted, but that is subject to change. We recommend that people planning to visit inmates check here before visiting to check on the status of visiting hours.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents to follow CDC and MDH guidelines on minimizing their potential health risk:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spry or wipe.
– HCSO–
Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
|
