The census is no more immune than any other enterprise to the vast disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its field offices are closed and won't reopen until June 1 at the soonest.

So far, the Bureau of the Census has moved the deadline for collecting data from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31. Monday, the bureau announced that it will ask Congress to move the deadline for delivery of the final numbers from Dec. 31 to April 30, 2021. That means state governments, which use the official data to map out state legislative and congressional districts, would not receive that data until July 31, 2021.

A delay would be problematic in many states, most of which have statutory and state constitutional deadlines to approve new districts. And many states have part-time legislatures.

Democratic Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, chairwoman of the House committee overseeing the census, said the bureau has not provided data to prove that a delay is warranted.

The bureau should indeed document its reasons. But the Congress should recognize that an accurate count is more important than keeping the deadline, and approve the extension if the data warrant the delay.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania's response rate as of Tuesday was 49.3%, whereas the national rate was 48.1%. Local county response rates were Luzerne, 45%; Lackawanna, 45.8%; Wyoming, 37.6%; Susquehanna, 31.1%; Wayne, 31.7%; Pike, 25.1%; and Monroe, 31.1%.

The best way to ensure a successful census, and to ensure fair representation and equitable distribution of federal funds, is for everyone to participate in the count.