Carbon County legislators are asking the governor to join with those counties transitioning to a yellow designation.

In an email sent to the state this morning, state Sen. John Yudichak, Reps. Doyle Heffley and Jerry Knowles and Carbon County Commissioners Wayne Nothstein, Rocky Ahner and Chris Lukasevich formally made the request to transition Carbon from a red designation to a yellow designation.

The group cites measures the state uses to determine which counties could open and noted that Carbon falls within these metrics.

“Since our hospital systems in Carbon County began testing for COVID-19 in March, we have performed 1,354 tests. Of those tested, 198 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in a county with a population of 66,000,” the letter states.

Carbon County has suffered 17 deaths as a result of the pandemic, 12 of those being in a nursing home.

The legislators also cited that “since April 27, Carbon County has averaged 2.4 cases per day, with a total of 33 new cases in 14 days.”

This is on target with the governor’s target of 50 cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period.

“We have worked with our county emergency management and health care network to ensure they have adequate personal protective equipment, beds, ventilators and testing capacity,” the letter states. “Based on the information provided by our health care provider, they are properly prepared to test and care for current and future COVID-19 patients.”

Legislators said the safety of the residents is one of its highest priorities and added that residents have abided by CDC guidelines for social distancing and staying home.

“Many have sacrificed greatly to ‘flatten the curve,’” the letter says. “Now, as the metrics show, it is time to allow the hardworking families in Carbon County to responsibly and safety move into the ‘yellow’ phase.”