Carbon County officials are devising a plan to make sure there is enough staffing at the prison during the pandemic.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners said that there have been over a dozen corrections officers out at the prison, citing a number of reasons, including COVID-19, vacation time, workmen’s compensation issues, Family Medical leave and other illnesses.

“We do have a significant amount of guards out at the prison,” Commissioner Rocky Ahner said, adding that the county is currently working on a plan that includes some guards returning instead of taking vacation time, paying overtime and shifting others around, but the plan is still in the works.

“It’s putting a strain on us and we’re doing what we can,” Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said.

The commissioners and warden, as well as the sheriff’s office has also been in contact with the state Department of Corrections in case the county needs assistance, but the problem with staffing is not a localized problem, Ahner said. Prisons all over the commonwealth have been experiencing shortages, especially now during the pandemic.

Carbon County currently has over 43 full-time corrections officers.

In a related prison matter, Nothstein said that there have been a few additional COVID-19 cases in the inmate population, bringing the number to three.

Those inmates are currently in isolation, Ahner said.