In Carbon County, Commissioner Chris Lukasevich has been keeping track of the number of cases. Based on his formula on the population of 60,000, the county needs to maintain an average of 2.29 cases a day for 14 days. On April 25, the county had 162 cases. Today, Carbon had 196 cases. The average now, according to Lukasevich, is 3.78 cases a day.

Carbon County said it will not defy Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders as neighboring Schuylkill said it will. However, the county is pushing for reopening as soon as possible.

“We’re committed to continued advocacy for an accelerated but responsible opening of businesses in Carbon County, keeping in mind that as county commissioners we don’t have the legal authority to unilaterally cancel any of the governor’s imposed restrictions to include authorizing the reopening of businesses,” Carbon commissioners said in a statement Saturday.

Commissioners said they are “comfortable” that Carbon can begin a “reopening” in advance of the other northeastern counties.

Commissioners though are questioning what will happen if Carbon opens and surrounding counties do not. Last weekend, Lehigh Gorge State Park was crowded with tourists. Lukasevich said he is concerned about crowds at Mauch Chunk Lake Park and Beltzville State Park.

Commissioners said they will reach out to the Carbon Chamber, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, and other stakeholders “to further consider how we lessen the side effects of a very necessary business reopening in advance of our neighboring counties.”

They concluded, “Unquestionably, this is an extremely difficult problem set, and one the state has been seemingly trying to resolve on its own, without expeditious sharing of critical decision making information or serious consideration of input from those who know the lay of the land best, county commissioners.”

Lukasevich said the county will continue to work with state Rep. Doyle Heffley to advocate for opening. At this point he said Carbon has no plans to follow Schuylkill’s actions.