Months of census work is coming to an end Monday, according to a statement credited to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

The 2020 count has been working with a fluid schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally, the Census Bureau planned to conclude data collection in August. That date was adjusted to Sept. 30, then Oct. 31 following a federal judge's ruling. Now, it sits at Monday.

“People can still respond in the way most comfortable for them,” said Susan Licate, a media specialist with the Philadelphia Regional Census Center. “Online, by phone, returned mail ... or nonresponse follow up interview.”

Ross' announcement was made around the time U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh issued an order that allowed the census to continue through October.

The judge's decision sided with civil rights groups and local governments that sued the Census Bureau and Department of Commerce, which oversees the census.

The suit argued hard-to-count communities like minorities would be missed if the census ended in September instead of October.

Koh's order, made in San Jose, Calif., reverted the census end date to Oct. 31 and also halted the bureau's Dec. 31 statutory deadline.

By law, census data must be presented to the U.S. president by Dec. 31 in the year the census is taken.

Koh indicated Tuesday the Commerce Department's chosen end date of Monday may violate her order.

According to reports, Koh also advised she might consider a motion of contempt against the federal government.

Licate indicated the bureau's position is clear.

“The Census Bureau will comply with Secretary Ross,” Licate said.

Butler County's current self-response rate is 75.9%, according to Licate. In 2010, the self-response rate was 73.8%.

Cranberry Township, where an area census office is located, has a self-response rate of 83.8%. Of the total self-response rate in Butler County, 62.1% of responses were given online.

Licate said after Monday, census workers will begin processing data.

“The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the president and Congress as required by law in December,” Licate said.

The bureau will also send redistricting counts to the states by March 31, according to Licate. This information helps to redraw legislative districts based on population.

Citizens can still complete the census online through Monday, as well as by phone at the toll free number 1-844-330-2020 or via mail. Several languages are available for callers.

Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MAQ) sites and door-to-door census takers are also still active.

Due to the volume of calls received, those using the toll-free number may be given the option to receive a callback instead of waiting on hold. This is the only time a census worker will call a citizen, according to Licate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.