Minnesota Quarantine and Isolation Statutes

Authority.When necessary the commissioner of the Department of Healthmay establish and enforce a system of quarantine against the introduction into the state of any plague or other communicable disease by common carriers doing business across its borders.

MN Stat. 144.14

Penalties.

When necessary the commissioner may establish and enforce a system of quarantine against the introduction into the state of any plague or other communicable disease by common carriers doing business across its borders. Its members, officers, and agents may board any conveyance used by such carriers to inspect the same and, if such conveyance be found infected, may detain the same and isolate and quarantine any or all persons found thereon, with their luggage, until all danger of communication of disease therefrom is removed.

MN Stat. 144.419

Police Power & Limitations. Isolation and quarantine must be by the least restrictive means necessary to prevent the spread of a communicable or potentially communicable disease to others and may include, but are not limited to, confinement to private homes or other private or public premises. Isolated and quarantined individuals must be immediately released when they pose no known risk of transmitting a communicable or potentially communicable disease to others.

Before isolating or quarantining a person or group of persons, the commissioner of health shall obtain a written, ex parte order authorizing the isolation or quarantine from the District Court of Ramsey County, the county where the person or group of persons is located, or a county adjoining the county where the person or group of persons is located.

MN Stat. 144.4195

Due Process For Isolation or Quarantine of Persons. Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the commissioner of health may by directive isolate or quarantine a person or group of persons without first obtaining a written, ex parte order from the court if a delay in isolating or quarantining the person or group of persons would significantly jeopardize the commissioner of health's ability to prevent or limit the transmission of a communicable or potentially communicable life-threatening disease to others.