US: Ohio calls off Tuesday primary over coronavirus

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - The U.S. state of Ohio called off the Tuesday primary to avoid widespread exposure to the new coronavirus.

"During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus," Governor Mike DeWine said in a Twitter statement late Monday, noting that the closure of polling stations were ordered by Dr. Amy Acton, the director of Ohio Department of Health.

"While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State Frank LaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity," DeWine added.

The three-page order, shared by the governor, stated "the polling locations in the State of Ohio were closed on March 17 to avoid the imminent threat with a high probability of widespread exposure to COVID-19 with a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of the people in the general population, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and chronic medical conditions."

"To conduct an election at this time would force poll workers and voters to face an unacceptable risk of contracting COVID-19," it added.

Acton emphasized that her order shall take effect "immediately and remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the governor no longer exists," or she modifies the order.

There are 50 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ohio and 12 in its counties, according to the latest data of state's Department of Health.

On Thursday, Acton said in a news conference along with the governor that they know "at least 1% at the very least, 1% of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today."

"We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly," she added.

The COVID-19 disease has killed over 7,000 people across the globe -- 3,000 in China alone where the new virus originated last December.

In the U.S., the death toll from novel coronavirus has climbed to 85, with total confirmed cases over 4,600, according to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.

The virus has spread to another 182,500 people in almost 150 countries and territories.