Letter to the editor: Poor execution of Pa. travel restrictions

The value of requiring residents traveling outside of Pennsylvania to have a covid-19 test or quarantine upon return is one I’ll hold opinion on. The exception I do take is to the timing of this and to the lead time provided for compliance.

The announcement of this policy was made a week before Thanksgiving. Those who would be traveling have made these plans long ago — flights and hotels reserved. After everything this community has been through, putting this condition in place immediately before the holiday demonstrates serious insensitivity to the people of Pennsylvania.

We can debate the statistics or value of any of our covid-19 mitigation steps, but no one can credibly argue the extra week would have done anything for public safety related to the small percentage of people who need to travel distances to see loved ones.

Which leads me to the second point — lead time compliance. The announcement was made Tuesday, Nov. 17. Compliance is to begin on Friday, Nov. 20. Three days. At any time of year, under any circumstance, this window for compliance for interstate travel is too narrow.

I’m not questioning the legitimacy of this step, but its execution. Extremely poor.

Jim Heatherington

Gibsonia