Death of COVID-19 Positive Man from Minnesota Correctional Facility-Rush City Reported by Minnesota Department of Corrections

St. Paul, Minn.– Late Saturday, November 28, 2020, a 57-year-old man who was incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Rush City, and had recently been diagnosed with COVID-19, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul.

The man’s identity is being withheld pending full notification of next of kin.

“We extend our condolences to the family and friends of this man,” said Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Paul Schnell. “The level of community spread of COVID-19 makes our extensive efforts to minimize the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in the state’s correctional facilities that much more challenging. We are committed to continuing our aggressive testing and spread mitigation efforts as we closely monitor the health status and medical needs of those who contract this virus,” Schnell added.

This is the fifth COVID-related death of an incarcerated person in the Minnesota DOC system since the pandemic began, and the first from MCF-Rush City. Rush City currently has 49 COVID-positive incarcerated people, and 21 COVID-positive staff. Two incarcerated people from other facilities are currently in critical condition and receiving ventilator treatment at outside hospitals. Several DOC staff members are currently hospitalized due to COVID.

The DOC has conducted comprehensive testing of all incarcerated people and staff in our facilities, and taken measures across the system to manage the risk of COVID-19 entering facilities and spreading, including: implementing “Stay with Unit” plans, enacting mandatory barrier mask policies, and installing handwashing stations. Each facility has also taken a number of steps specific to their unique environment. Those plans can be viewed here: Facility Specific COVID-19 Responses / Department of Corrections (mn.gov). MCF-Rush City plans can be viewed here: MCF-Rush City COVID-19 Response / Department of Corrections (mn.gov).