Officials from Pennsylvania's Columbia County sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Wednesday informing him of their decision to reopen on Friday despite his threats.
Per Fox 56, the Columbia County Commissioners wrote in their letter to Wolf, "As the duly elected Commissioners of Columbia County, this letter will serve to inform you of our intention to move from the Red Phase to the Yellow Phase of your COVID-19 Phased Reopening Plan, effective May 15, 2020."
The red phase of Wolf's plan keep non-essential businesses closed. Wolf recently extended his lockdown order to June 4. The yellow phase of his plan allows some businesses to reopen with certain restrictions. Columbia County was not included among the counties Wolf allowed to move to yellow phase.
The commissioners told Wolf that their residents have "responded in good faith and good intention" to his original lockdown order and that hospitals and other health care providers have the capacity and equipment to treat coronavirus patients going forward.
The letter continues, "We Commissioners have seen firsthand how our citizens have responded to this crisis in an educated and diligent fashion. We have heard the pleas of our citizens who desire to safely re-open their businesses and safely return to work."
They added that this resolution is not an order, but rather a provision giving business owners the freedom to decide whether to reopen: