That's my impression also: distance travelled as an inherent property shouldn't 'break' quantum effects. It matters only because larger scale implies a larger chance of interaction, and because it relates to no-go theorems. Still, I don't think these effects have been seen over such distances, even if they were expected.

Despite the title, the scientists quoted don't sound baffled as much as excited. I think this is a case of "we found it after all!"