Carbon County government will remain open for business, while offices take steps to limit in-person interactions to delay the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

On Tuesday the Carbon County commissioners held a joint press conference with state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon.

They announced that virtually all county offices, including senior day centers, will be closed to visitors effective immediately, with a few offices remaining open by appointment only. A full list of the offices affected is available at www.carboncounty.com.

“We as the commissioners are discouraging in person interaction in the county offices with our county residents. However what we are encouraging is use of email, phone, online and lastly to make an appointment to come in and have your service taken care of,” said Commissioner Chris Lukasevich.

Meanwhile, county food pantry services will continue to provide food as scheduled, but with changes to limit human interaction.

Residents will still be able to access most county services, but they will have to do so using the internet or phone.

The county’s senior centers, animal shelter, county archives, election offices, GIS and tax assessment offices, Mauch Chunk Lake Park office, the environmental center, planning office, tax claim office and treasurer office are closed to visitors as of March 17.

Human resources and the prothonotary, public defender’s office, recorder of deeds, register of wills, will remain open to visitors by appointment only.

Prothonotary Kayla Semmel said all passport applications have been suspended for at least two weeks. To schedule an appointment with the office, call 570-325-2481.

Residents or attorneys can put filings in a drop box outside the office. If copies need to be returned, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Filings can also be mailed to Attn: Kayla Semmel Carbon County Prothonotary, P.O. Box 130 Jim Thorpe, PA 18229.

Register of Wills/Orphans Court Jean Papay said the office is requiring visitors to make an appointment by calling 570-325-2261. Paperwork should be dropped through the slot of the door to the office with filing fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope attached, or mailed to P.O. Box 286, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229.

Those offices joined the correctional facility and CareerLink, which closed to in-person visits late last week.

The sheriff’s office has suspended the processing of concealed carry firearm permits, and the prothonotary has suspended the processing of passport applications.

“Services are continuing, just adhere to the protocol and observe good social distancing,” Luksaevich said.

The county has formed a COVID-19 advisory group, which has been meeting to plan its continued operations. They also declared a disaster emergency, which will help the county receive FEMA funding if it becomes available.

“We are doing what we can to keep things going, and to reduce the spread of the virus,” Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said.

The county’s food pantries run in conjunction with Shepherd House and will continue their daily distribution, at regularly scheduled times, Commissioner Rocky Ahner said.

Starting immediately all distribution will be done by drive-thru - meals will be bagged and brought to the car, and recipients aren’t allowed out of their vehicles.

The Agency on Aging will also continue to provide in-house meals.

Ahner encouraged other food pantries associated with churches and private groups to use the same protocol.

“These are procedures to protect not only you the public, but also the volunteers serving you. And we want to thank them for that,” he said.

Heffley said that the governor’s request for nonessential businesses to close and for restaurants to go takeout only has been made in the interest of public safety and curbing the spread of the disease.

He reminded residents to continue to social distance, because it is the best way to protect the most vulnerable residents.

“I know a lot of people stocked up. Now it’s the time to use those supplies, to stay at home. Nobody is starving anywhere in the world from this virus - the way it’s spreading is from community interaction,” he said.

He said residents can continue to support local businesses by ordering food for curbside pickup.

Heffley encouraged residents who have been laid off due to the virus to seek their unemployment benefits. He said businesses don’t get unemployment, so he’ll be paying close attention to expected aid from the federal government to help lessen the economic impact of the virus.

“There is total cooperation. We’re going to do all we can to try and get our businesses back up and running and provide them with support,” Heffley said.

Nothstein encouraged local municipalities to declare a disaster emergency so they can potentially receive federal funding to combat the virus if it becomes available.

Heffley said that Lehigh Valley and St. Luke’s University health networks have been setting up testing locations throughout the region, but he encouraged residents to call first.

“Most people who get affected by this do not see the most severe cases. But because of the vulnerable population and what we don’t know about this virus, it’s best we just heed that advice and do what we need the next two weeks,” Heffley said.