Coronavirus leads Ohio to delay election despite judge's refusal

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidates former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders debate during the 11th Democratic candidates debate of the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, held in CNN's Washington studios without an audience because of the global coronavirus pandemic, in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ohio will postpone its presidential nominating election planned for Tuesday, despite a judge's refusal to endorse a postponement, because the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus makes it too dangerous, Governor Mike DeWine said.

DeWine had asked a state court for permission to postpone the election, but after a judge denied the request he said the state's health director would order the polls shut as part of the public health emergency caused by the virus.