- Ohio has confirmed three cases of coronavirus.
- Health officials say coronavirus is especially dangerous to older adults with underlying health conditions.
- The relocation comes as events that include large gatherings of people are being cancelled across the country.
The state of Ohio is relocating more than 120 voting sites it had been planned to place in senior living facilities for the state’s primary next week amid concerns about the novel coronavirus that continues to spread throughout the United States.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Tuesday that he directed the state’s 88 counties to relocate roughly 125 voting locations at senior citizen living facilities and nursing homes to protect elderly adults from the coronavirus.
“Part of the process there is to make sure we take every step possible to notify every affected Ohioan of their relocated polling location,” LaRose said during a press conference Tuesday.
Voters whose polling locations are changed will be notified by mail.
LaRose urged residents to consider participating in early voting this week or mailing in an absentee ballot to avoid gathering in large groups, instead of going to the polls in person for the primary election March 17.
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The move comes as health officials have said older adults, especially those with underlying health issues, are particularly susceptible to COVID-19. U.S. health officials have urged older people to avoid large social gatherings, cruise ships and airline flights to minimize the chance of becoming infected.
In Washington state, at least 13 patients in a Seattle-area nursing home died following an outbreak of COVID-19. Out of the patients who remain, 31 of 35 tested were infected with coronavirus. Tests are still pending for others at the nursing home.
Ohio has confirmed at least three cases of coronavirus so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
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