It’s been nearly a week since Gov. Tom Wolf ordered Lehigh Valley residents to stay at home. While most residents are taking the order seriously, others are not, so it is up to local and state police to enforce the regulation.

While they are not handing out citations yet, they are trying to convince people that by practicing social distancing and taking the other mandated precautions that they can potentially save lives, possibly their own and those of their loved ones.

County residents affected by the order are still permitted to leave the house for a limited number of activities, such as getting groceries, going to medical appointments and performing other tasks essential to maintaining health and safety. They can engage in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing.

Police reported lighter-than-normal traffic on major highways crisscrossing the Lehigh Valley during the weekend, especially on I-78, and routes 22, 309, 33, 512, 100 and 873. Joseph Caraccio of Whitehall, who commutes to central New Jersey, said that traffic all last week was “a breeze.” Normally, he said, the trip takes more than an hour and a half, but he was able to make it in about an hour and 10 minutes.

Two weeks ago, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure jointly declared states of emergency for their respective counties. This allows them to cut through time-consuming red tape so they can hire temporary workers, bring in needed equipment, buy supplies and execute contracts without going through the usual steps with their legislative branches.

Armstrong said the order is intended to give people a wake-up call.

“Stay home. Wash your hands. Don’t hoard,” he advised county residents.

McClure warned that this pandemic is not over by a long shot. “We are very likely closer to the beginning of this event than the end,” McClure said. He asked residents to understand that they are being asked to sacrifice and to live their lives differently for a while.

One of the most vocal local state legislators urging the public to take this pandemic seriously is Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, who said people must see the pandemic in broader terms than their own health.

“Many of us who get the coronavirus will be just fine,” Schlossberg said. “I am a healthy, 36-year-old man. Odds are extremely good that if I get the virus, I’ll recover, but if I infect my diabetic 70-year-old dad, I may kill him. I’m staying home as much as possible, and I urge you to do the same. This moment will test us, but it will not break us.”

State Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, said, “Together we can help reduce the spread of this virus and limit prolonged disruptions to our daily lives,” Browne said.

Police have not reported issuing any citations to individuals, although both state and local police said they have given warnings to groups of people who congregated at playgrounds, basketball courts and outdoor venues.

As of Friday, state police have issued five warnings but no citations in Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties to nonessential businesses which were open despite the state order.

In the area’s largest city, Allentown, Police Chief Glenn Granitz Jr. said the department is giving initial warnings to business owners and people who violate Wolf’s order. He’s asking residents to report any suspected violators.

“An officer will document the situation; our Community Services Unit will then follow up to determine if a violation has occurred; after an initial warning, citations can be given,” Granitz said.

Private businesses, organizations and other noncompliant entities face possible criminal penalties under the Administrative Code of 1929, and/or the Pennsylvania Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955. Both violations are summary offenses punishable by fines and even jail time, Granitz said.