On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that he’s lifting some restrictions on business and travel in some counties which have had a low number of cases.

Meanwhile, many businesses across the state, including in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, wonder when it will be their turn to reopen.

Members of the area’s legislative delegation believe that there are some businesses which can reopen even as efforts continue to slow the spread of the virus.

“We’ve worked so hard to rebuild the business community in places like Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Tamaqua, and I’d hate to see that progress reversed,” said state Sen. David Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks.

On Friday Wolf announced that 24 counties will move from “red” to “yellow” - meaning stay at home orders are lifted and some businesses can reopen. The counties are all located in the northwest and north-central regions of the state and each reported fewer than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days. He also considered testing capacity, hospital capacity, and contact tracing.

Based on the number of new cases reported in Carbon and surrounding counties in the last 14 days, it could be weeks before the area moves from red to yellow.

Until then, the majority of the state’s population is still under an order closing all non-life-sustaining businesses, although many businesses have received waivers.

Argall and Republican colleagues in Harrisburg have tried to pull back some of the restrictions the Wolf Administration placed on businesses, with mixed results.

Bills to allow for online car sales and notary services have passed, while Wolf vetoed a bill which would have allowed more businesses to operate, as long as they followed CDC guidelines.

They have also called for more transparency in the process which granted waivers to many businesses who were not deemed “life-sustaining.”

“Some employers were allowed to reopen. Some identical employers weren’t allowed to reopen. That’s why we’re all pleased that the Auditor General has agreed to the Senate’s request to audit the waiver process,” Argall said.

Argall also pointed out that the Administration initially shut down industries which have remained open in virtually every other state - like road construction and liquor stores.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, said there has been a lack of transparency.

“We’re all on the same team, we all want to get Pennsylvania back up and running, but we all want to understand what’s the plan, and what are you basing it on,” Heffley said.

Heffley supported the initial shutdown. But now, he said, it appears that the shutdown has accomplished its stated mission of flattening the curve, and preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

Heffley said he was baffled at the administration’s stance that local garden centers should remain closed, especially with the spring planting season.

He said that with each day the garden centers remain closed means that there are tons of fresh produce which won’t be grown this summer.

“I fully support the initial shutdown. But now we see what we’re up against, and we need to get segments of this economy up and running,” Heffley said.

Heffley said he is also frustrated with the performance of the state’s unemployment compensation office, which has put pressure on many residents who are out of work.

As the shutdown continues, expenses are piling up for local businesses. If they are unable to make money, it could result in their shutdown becoming permanent.

Kathy Henderson, Economic Development Director for Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, is still wary of reopening with case counts at their current levels in Northeast Pennsylvania.

But she’s well aware of the toll that the shutdown has taking on local business.

“It’s heartbreaking when you talk to businesses owners who feel that they’re out of options, and they don’t know which way to turn,” she said.

The Chamber & Economic Development Corporation has been doing what it can to provide support to local businesses on a grassroots level. Ironically, Chambers of Commerce are deemed non-life-sustaining, but they continue to work remotely to support local businesses.

They have temporarily deferred loan payments, and tried to connect businesses with programs like the Paycheck Protection Program, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

She’s seen restaurants and other businesses taking the initiative to transform their business while they are unable to open their dining rooms. But there are many other small businesses struggling to pay their bills and stay afloat.

“The little businesses with one or two people - the owner and maybe one or two employees - they’re the ones who are slipping through the cracks and they’re the ones that we really need to help also,” Henderson said.