MSOP reports third Covid death

On Jan. 1, the Minnesota Sex Offender program reported the third death of a client from Covid-19 at its Moose Lake facility. The prior deaths occurred on Dec. 2 and Dec. 9, 2020.

“We mourn his passing and extend our deepest sympathy to those who loved him and called him friend,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “The toll the pandemic continues to take in human lives is tragic.”

Nearly 740 civilly committed clients receive treatment at MSOP facilities in Moose Lake and St. Peter. Currently, there are no active cases of Covid-19 among clients in MSOP facilities.

In an effort to identify and isolate unknown or asymptomatic infections, MSOP has implemented voluntary mass testing of staff and clients on its campuses in Moose Lake and St. Peter. The testing takes place one day each week and targets all willing staff and clients who are in the facility during a specific shift. The most recent round of testing in Moose Lake yielded no positive results among staff or clients. Testing will continue until the facilities have gone two weeks without a new positive case.