Coronavirus In Ohio: Presidential Primary In Ohio Will Go On As Planned
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The four presidential primaries scheduled for Tuesday will go on as scheduled, after a judge in Ohio turned down a request to delay that state's election over concerns of widespread disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Ohio's governor and secretary of state had supported the lawsuit by voters seeking a delay in the primary until June 2, in the hope that the outbreak subsides by then. Ohio Judge Richard Frye ruled against the motion Monday night because he didn't want to rewrite the law, The Columbus Disptach reported. The ruling can be appealed.
With the ruling, Ohio joins Arizona, Florida and Illinois in proceeding with their presidential primaries. Officials in the states have said they are making preparations to ensure the safety of voters, even as concerns mounted that there will not be enough poll workers in some precincts and voters will be confused after polling places in nursing homes were moved to other locations.
Elsewhere, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana have postponed their scheduled primaries.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)