Hennepin County employees volunteer to work with those who have tested positive for COVID-19

Justin Dempsey is a Hennepin County employee who isn’t required to work directly with people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

However, he volunteered to do so because "it’s the right thing to do," he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

Hennepin County recently leased three hotels for three months and $5.5 million to give people a location to shelter-in-place when they have no place else to go. Right now, about 300 homeless women and men are living in those hotels.

One of the hotels is specifically designated for those who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, are showing symptoms of the illness, or waiting for test results, that’s part of the reason Dempsey volunteered to work there.

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"It gives me satisfaction to serve the people of Hennepin County," Dempsey said. "And these are some of the most vulnerable people living among us, and even though there is a risk when I go in every day, I don’t mind."

Dempsey said he makes sure he is very diligent in following guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.

"I am very aware of what I need to do like washing my hands and keeping a safe distance," Dempsey said. "I also go home and immediately wash my clothes, and I could not do this without the support of my family."