North Lancaster News

HARRISBURG – The Lancaster GOP House Delegation, including House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) and Representatives Mindy Fee (R-Manheim), Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), Dave Hickernell (R-West Donegal), Brett Miller (R-East Hempfield), Steve Mentzer (R-Lititz), and Dave Zimmerman (R-East Earl), has called on the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) to cease sending letters to school children. These letters state that the DOH has determined the child had “close contact” with a person who has COVID-19 and threatens legal action if the instructions are not followed.

The letter, which arrives in an envelope hand-addressed to the school children, addresses them by their first name and directs them to quarantine for 14 days, prohibiting them from leaving the quarantine area except for medical care. It further states: “If you do not adhere to this directive, the (acting) Secretary of Health may petition a court to have you confined to an appropriate place chosen by the Department…”

“The Department of Health has not had a stellar performance during the COVID pandemic, and this is the latest in their extra-legal behavior and it may be the most egregious yet,” Zimmerman said. “They are telling children ‘we are coming to get you and take you away.’”

“Addressing an envelope by hand in such a way as to encourage a child to open it, particularly a letter that includes the possibility that a child could be removed from their parent’s home is just appalling,” Greiner said. “I think an apology to parents and students would be appropriate in this circumstance and these letters should stop right now.”

“News reports have DOH saying these letters were sent out in very limited numbers,” Hickernell said. “The Department needs to come forward immediately and tell us how many of these letters have been sent out to kids.”

“Everything that has transpired is very unfortunate,” Mentzer said. “We need to fight the pandemic but also recognize common sense still has a place.”

Lancaster County House Republican Delegation

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Charles Lardner 717.260.6443