Since November, over a third of Carbon County’s government offices have been tested for COVID-19.

To date, 37 positive cases were confirmed within the 117 employees tested.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner provided a breakdown, saying that 26 of those employees who had tested positive have already returned to work, and the remaining 11 are waiting to return to work after receiving a doctor’s note.

In addition, there are five employees who tested negative, but have not yet returned and are waiting on a doctor’s note, and six currently waiting on results from their COVID-19 tests.

Ahner said that not all of the employees who got tested “have been county related.”

“Some may have been out to get tested due to a family member test(ing) positive or other contact with a positive person,” he said.

Since mid-November, Carbon County has closed its office to the public in the hopes of keeping both the employees and visitors safe during the pandemic.

Most services are available online and departments can be contacted via phone during business hours, but Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said the board has heard of some “potential inconsistencies with access in county buildings.”

“We are examining to make sure all offices are providing the access that is required for the continuing operations of businesses and to ensure we are not responsible for any delays that might occur for any services we should be providing,” he said.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein echoed Lukasevich’s thought.

“We cannot afford an outbreak any worse that we already have and we are being extremely cautious,” he said. “I know it is an inconvenience. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it seems to be getting brighter with the vaccine coming out.”