Terry Mutchler, who Chairs Obermayer’s Transparency and Public Data Practice, was recently interviewed by LNP | LancasterOnline in connection with the media’s request for the release of updated data on resident COVID-19 deaths by ZIP code for all ZIP codes in Pennsylvania. Since Terry’s first interview with the media, LNP | LancasterOnline received the data, which listed COVID-19 deaths in Lancaster County from the start of the pandemic to September 2021. After a reporter filed a request to the department to provide the data for the entire state’s zip codes, and for it to be current as of when the request was filled, the Pennsylvania Department of Health requested a 30-day extension to provide the most recent death figures in response to a Right-to-Know request LNP | LancasterOnline.
“Now, clearly, the reporter’s request is for a different time period. But it is for the same data,” said Terry. “It’s a different version of holding records hostage.”
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