Carbon County lawmakers disagree with Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to extend the county’s stay-at-home order until June 4.
Sen. John Yudichak (I- Luzerne County), Reps. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon County) and Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill), and Carbon County Commissioners Wayne Nothstein, Rocky Ahner and Chris Lukasevich sent a letter to Wolf urging him to move Carbon County from the red phase to the yellow phase of the state’s reopening plan.
The lawmakers cited that there have been 198 cases of COVID-19 out of a population of 66,000 and 17 deaths. The health care network and county emergency management are properly prepared to test and care for patients, the letter said.
“On March 26, the governor described that we are all fighting a war. A war requires sacrifice, united commitment, and resources,” the commissioners said. “Carbon County’s residents and small businesses sacrificed while working together to flatten the curve and provide our healthcare heroes time and space to increase capacity and capabilities. Now, our war’s priority of effort and resources must shift to responsibly and safely saving our economy and the livelihoods of our residents. Time is of the essence. This is the focus of our ‘one team, one fight’ appeal to Gov. Wolf.”