April 1 may be over, but the Census is still being conducted and Census officials stress the importance that every individual gets counted.

The 2020 Census will directly impact every citizen of Muskingum County from school funding and grant opportunities, to Ohio potentially losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This is the first year that citizens have the opportunity to respond to the census not just with pen and paper, but with their computers, a move the Census Bureau estimates will save millions if not billions of dollars, but one that may also save lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Friday at midnight, Muskingum County had a self-response rate of 49 percent, placing it behind other counties across the country.

Historically, after receiving the Census in the mail prior to April 1, those who failed to respond were followed up with in person, however, that process has currently been halted due to fears of the coronavirus.

According to 2020Census.gov, many of the follow-up measures designed to ensure an accurate count of every citizen have been postponed until mid-May. The Census Bureau is strongly encouraging online responses, while also reminding those without internet that there are resources available to respond by phone or mail.