Carbon County officials have extended the county’s COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration for an additional 30 days as officials prepare to safely reopen once given the opportunity.

On Thursday, the county commissioners passed the extended declaration. The board originally passed the emergency declaration on March 16.

The action came after 189 people have tested positive in the county since the pandemic began. Sixteen of those people have died.

But what does that mean moving forward to reopen the county?

At this time, stay home and stay safe, the commissioners said.

On the state level, Gov. Tom Wolf continues to plan for a safe reopening and has extended the stay-at-home order until June 4.

One factor in the governor must consider is the number of cases per 100,000 people. The threshold that has been set is under 50 cases per 100,000.

Carbon County, over the past week, has lowered its overall number, with only 14 new cases reported, but people must still continue to stay home, wear masks when outside and social distance for the foreseeable future, the commissioners said.

In addition, other factors remain that will affect when Carbon County can move to the yellow phase of the state plan, including testing and contact tracing that has not yet fully been established by the state; and surrounding counties, which have been hot spots of cases.

But in the meantime, Carbon County is preparing for reopening and is putting safeguards in place in county offices, as well as continue to supply first responders and agencies in need of protective personal equipment and supplies.

“We’re trying to prepare for when we can open so we are putting Plexiglas up to separate the workers from the public coming in,” Commissioner Rocky Ahner said.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein added that the Emergency Management Agency has handed out 6,725 N95 and surgical masks, 110 boxes of gloves, 3,670 isolation gowns, 130 face shields, 18 safety goggles, 86 Tyvek suits, 562 containers of hand sanitizer, 52 gallons of disinfectant and 24 body bags to municipalities that requested supplies.

Officials are also looking to see how they can maintain the public’s safety and will be working on plans in the coming weeks.

Carbon County will learn if it will be in the next group of counties that will be moving to the yellow phase today.