Carbon County is working to set up the necessary channels to receive more detailed geographical information on confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county.

The county commissioners have received correspondence from the Pennsylvania Department of Health stating that counties can set a single point of contact to receive the appropriate information to “effectively respond to communities in crisis.

“This information will include the addresses of persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 and reside within a specific county.”

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that Carbon has established internal protocols to protect the information when it is transmitted to first responders and filed the paperwork and nondisclosure agreement that is required by the state.

The question that still remained was how caseworkers for Area Agency on Aging, probation departments and Children and Youth would access the information before engaging with a client.

The county commissioners have been very vocal over the past several weeks about the need of obtaining this information to better protect first responders and the community during the pandemic.

They enlisted the help of state Sen. John Yudichak and Rep. Doyle Heffley, and after several requests from multiple counties, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine agreed to release the information as long as it was kept private through the 911 computer aided dispatch system.