The coronavirus is spreading more than just a dreaded disease.

It is spreading controversy, too.

Controversy on how to treat it. Controversy on who should or should not have done what and when they should or should not have done it.

Well, Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who is a frequent critic of lots of things, most of them Democratic, has turned his tongue toward Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order.

Gov. Tom Wolf issued that order, which is the most drastic of his edicts aimed at curbing the dispersal of COVID-19. It affects all 67 counties.

In a tweet reported by Fox News, Cruz blasted Wolf’s directive – and similar restrictions imposed by other Democratic governors – as an over-reaction and possibly even a violation of constitutional rights.

“This is absurd,” the one-time presidential hopeful tweeted. “To Dem politicians (and it seems to be only Dems doing this, eg Wolf in PA, DeBlasio in NYC, Cooper in NC), protect public safety, but WE DON’T LIVE IN A POLICE STATE.”

Cruz focused his ire on the case of a York County woman who received a $200 ticket for violating Wolf’s stay-at-home order by simply going out for a drive. The county district attorney said Wednesday that he plans to dismiss that case against Anita Shaffer, who claimed she went for a ride to shake off some restlessness.

It seems that citing Shaffer might in fact have been an over-reaction, or at least premature enforcement, by the two troopers who pulled her over. Days after Shaffer was cited, a top state police official said the force is still in a warning and advisory mode regarding the stay-at-home order, although at some point troopers switch to full-blown enforcement if violations persist.

Enter Cruz.

“Resist authoritarianism & don’t abuse power,” he tweeted. “Driving a car alone is not a public health threat.”

Maybe so, maybe not. Yet it’s not specifically allowed under Wolf’s order, either.

That directive, taken on its face prohibits all but “essential travel.” Such travel includes driving to a food store, pharmacy or doctor’s office to provide for yourself, family members and pets and driving to work at a life-sustaining business.

“Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel” Wolf’s order states. So, that’s one element of an authoritarian police state that isn’t present.

The governor’s you-can-do-this list doesn’t say it’s OK to just get behind the wheel to drive around looking at the scenery. It undoubtedly discourages firing up the car just because you’re getting antsy sitting around your living room or because the kids simply won’t settle down.

Journalist Brit Hume, senior political analyst for Fox News, was less wordy than Cruz in his own tweet regarding the citing of Shaffer.

“Good grief,” Hume wrote.

More than 12,000 people “liked” that tweet.

Others citing concern about anti-COVID-19 measures being taken by the states include U.S. Attorney General William Barr.

In an interview Wednesday, Barr said leaders must ensure "the draconian measures that are being adopted are fully justified and there are not alternative ways of protecting people.: