Schuylkill County elected officials have sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf telling him they plan to defy his orders and open up for business Friday.

But the governor isn’t budging. His press office said Sunday, “The governor believes it is important to save as many lives as possible during this once in a generation pandemic.”

His office said, “The administration is aware of the statements and is hopeful that everyone will act in the best interest of public health. Reopening businesses too early will only extend the length of the economic hardships created by the pandemic.”

In the letter signed by the county commissioners, state Sen. Dave Argall, state Reps. Mike Tobash and Jerry Knowles, officials said, “As elected officials of Schuylkill County, this letter serves to inform you of our intention to move from the Red Phase to the Yellow Phase of your COVID-19 Phased Reopening Plan, effective May 15, 2020.”

What’s needed

As of Sunday, Schuylkill County has 451 cases, an increase of 14 from Friday. The county recorded 13 deaths, one more than Saturday.

The target goal for reopening has been set at having fewer than 50 new confirmed cases per 100,000 population reported to the department in the previous 14 days. According to 208 figures, Schuylkill’s population is 142,067.

Other criteria is having enough testing available for people with symptoms and target populations such as those at high risk, health care personnel and first responders, robust case investigation and contact tracing infrastructure in place to facilitate early identification of cluster outbreaks and high-risk settings such as correctional institutions, personal care homes, skilled nursing facilities and other congregate care settings, and assurance that facilities have adequate safeguards in place.

Officials wrote to the governor, “Schuylkill County has met the requirement of your original Stay-at-Home Order, which was to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak and allow hospitals the time to gear up for COVID-19 patients being admitted to the ICU and in need of ventilators.”

The commissioners, along with the Emergency Management staff, formed a COVID-19 task force, bringing together leaders in agriculture, business, education, health care, local government, manufacturing, nonprofit, human services, county government as well as the state and federal legislative delegation to discuss the collaboration of these groups, as the county moves forward through the COVID-19 situation.

Commissioners’ Chairman George Halcovage said Saturday, “Our responsibility is to the citizens of our county.”

He said, “We have met the criteria. The numbers are low.”

Wolf’s office maintains, “Because we have banded together, Pennsylvania continues to weather this storm. Prematurely opening up counties, however, will result in deaths, and not just the loss of jobs.”

In the letter to Wolf, the county said, “The residents of our county have heeded your instructions to practice social distancing and other mitigation efforts, and as a result, our local health care facilities do not lack the capacity to effectively treat these patients going forward. Both PPE supply and the availability of COVID-19 tests have increased since mid-March.”

Halcovage said the county is ready to open in the yellow phase. “We have a plan in place to safely and securely move into the yellow phase,” he said.

Halcovage credited members of the task force who have taken stock of the situation and assets of the county. “They came back to the group and said, ‘Here’s where we’re at. It was very powerful how people came together to work for a common cause,” Halcovage said.

Officials cited the status in the letter to Wolf. “These factors have provided our local health care facilities with the confidence to address any upcoming concerns as Schuylkill County moves to the Yellow Phase. We, as elected officials, have a vested interest in keeping our community safe and free from disease, and not overburdening the health care facilities in the county. We have heard the pleas of our residents who desire the ability to safely reopen their businesses and safely return to work,” the letter said.

Wolf’s office said he also understands the pressure on individuals, businesses and the economy.

“Schuylkill County plans to move forward and will require businesses who are ready to reopen to follow CDC guidelines including requirements such as hand washing, social distancing and masks until further guidance is received for the county to move to the Green Phase,” the letter concluded.

Halcovage thanked Schuylkill County residents for their efforts to stay at home and to contain COVID-19.

“It’s going to be more important now than ever to shop locally and support our businesses,” he said.

Dauphin, Lebanon and Beaver counties also sent letters to Wolf protesting that they were passed over to move into the yellow phase next Friday.