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PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - A top state police official believes COVID-19 mitigation efforts are starting to work in Pennsylvania.
Lt. Colonel Scott Price who serves as Deputy State Police Commissioner says non-commercial travel on the turnpike is down 76% and commercial truck travel is down 27%.
"It's an empirical piece of data we can look at and say, 'yes, Pennsylvanians are getting the message and yes, the mitigation strategies we believe are starting to work.' "
As to enforcement of the governor's stay at home order, Price says the focus for state police has been on informing and education rather that writing citations. But he is worried about backsliding as warmer weather hits.
"Eventually, if there's continued non-compliance then we'll move into a more of an enforcement posture," said Price.
When asked if troopers had enough personal protection equipment, Price said as of a week ago, "not enough." But he said larger incoming supplies of N-95 and surgical masks will be in troopers' hands by the end of this week.
Price says troopers are not pulling over vehicles to ask about people's destinations. And vehicles are not being screened as they cross into Pennsylvania from other states. The couple of citations written for violation of the stay at home order have been secondary to other traffic incidents.
And he says state police have seen no statistically significant increase in domestic violence cases with more people staying at home.
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