In response to a May 1 letter to the editor by John Brandthoover of Arlington, questioning the governor’s authority for the stay-at-home order, I submit that Washington state law allows such mandates for quarantining members of the public in addition to requirements that the sheriffs and police officers enforce the quarantining measures made by local health officials.
The governor has it within his scope of obligations to establish quarantine orders based on information given him by the public health authorities. When Mr. Branthoover stated “the Constitution,” I assume he means the federal body of laws the govern us. Public health was always state mandated, since the local prevention of spread and exposure validation were always relative to events in specific state locales, and not the entire country.
This issue is not about federally protected individual rights, which were established after the aggregation of the original thirteen states. This is a states’ pights issue protected by state public health laws established for the protection of the community from the adverse health impact by an individual citizen.
Di Townsan
Mukilteo
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
