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Westmoreland Co., Greene Co. officials announce they won’t enforce Gov. Wolf’s restrictions

By WPXI.com News Staff
CDC reverses guidelines on airborne transmission of COVID-19 This 2020 electron microscope made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention image shows the spherical coronavirus particles from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. (C.S. Goldsmith, A. Tamin/CDC via AP, File)
By WPXI.com News Staff

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Westmoreland and Greene County officials said they will not be enforcing Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 orders.

In Westmoreland County, Sheriff James Albert told our partners at TribLive.com that his decades of experience as an officer, district judge and now sheriff violate the balance between individual liberties and enforcing government mandates.

Albert said his department has not yet been asked to enforce the new orders.

The WCRC supports Sheriff Albert’s decision to protect the civil liberties of Pennsylvanians, small businesses, and working people against unprecedented, unconstitutional government overreach.

Posted by Westmoreland County Republican Committee on Saturday, December 19, 2020

North Huntingdon officials also said they would not be abiding by Wolf’s orders limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people. According to TribLive.com, leaders said anyone who wants to could attend their public meetings.

The Greene County District Attorney said any business defying Wolf’s orders that has their business license revoked could file a private criminal complaint with his office. David Russo said each case would be investigated by the county detective to determine if the allegations rose to the level of criminal charges. He said if it is determined that a crime was committed by “an officials, officials or those purporting to act in an official capacity” a summons would be issued for that person(s) to appear in court.

Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the Elk County Sheriff’s Office said it would not be enforcing the orders, calling them “unconstitutional mandates that suppress or abolish the rights and liberties expressly given by God.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE MESSAGE FROM THE ELK COUNTY SHERIFF

The Lancaster County Sheriff also penned a message on the agency’s website saying his office would “not be enforcing any edicts from the Governor’s Office as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Wolf issued the new orders Dec. 11. They took effect the next day and remain in effect until 8 a.m. on Jan. 4. The orders, among other things, prohibit all in-person indoor dining, limit indoor gatherings to 10 people, cap business capacity at 50% and prohibit operations at all indoor gyms and fitness facilities.

CLICK HERE to see the details of Gov. Wolf’s newest orders

First COVID-19 vaccines given at Excela Health

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