usatoday--2020-03-18--Biden projected to win Arizona, capping wins in all three states voting Tuesday and continuing his s

Check back for updates as polls close in three states amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Former Vice President Joe Biden swept all three states voting Tuesday in a series of primaries that were heavily influenced by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
His last win of the night came in Arizona , where the Associated Press projected a victory through voter surveys .
Biden secured early projected wins in Florida and Illinois , where he was long heavily favored to win , and he captured the state of Arizona shortly after polls there closed at 10 p.m. EDT .
In all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for grabs in the latest round of voting , and Biden ’ s projected victories handed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a formidable challenge to catch up .
It was the first series of primaries to take place amid the national state of emergency President Donald Trump declared over the coronavirus pandemic , a circumstance that had the potential to upend the candidates ’ messages as well as the technical process of running a primary election .
The Democratic primary schedule has a bit of a lull for the next month .
Puerto Rico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 primaries include Hawaii with 24 delegates , Alaska with 15 and Wyoming ’ s caucuses with 14 .
Wisconsin has a primary April 7 .
And then on April 28 , five states will make their choices , including New York with 274 delegates and Pennsylvania with 186 delegates .
Ohioans were set to cast their ballots on Tuesday but state officials there announced they would postpone the election until sometime after the outbreak had passed .
“ This pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives , and every aspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a video streamed from his home in Delaware , where he eschewed the traditional rally to deliver his election night remarks .
“ It ’ s at moments like these that we realize we need to put politics aside and work together as Americans.
” Both candidates avoided attacks on each other , or even discussing the latest contours of the race .
“ In this moment of crisis it is imperative that we stand together , ” Sanders said in his own video message .
“ This is a moment that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Heading into the election , Biden had a better than 153-delegate lead over Sanders .
Trump , who never faced a significant challenge , also swept the primaries Tuesday and exceeded the 1,276 delegates needed to become the GOP ’ s presumptive nominee .
As Arizona ’ s polls closed Tuesday with uncertain results , former Vice President Joe Biden looked to add to his Democratic primary wins in Florida and Illinois against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , according to Associated Press projections from voter surveys .
Biden ’ s victories came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locked up the Republican nomination for his re-election .
Biden said from his home in Wilmington , Del.
, that the victories demonstrated a broad coalition to beat Trump , including blacks , Hispanics , suburban women and veterans .
He commended Sanders ’ supporters and said they share a vision for affordable health care , a need to reduce income inequality and to fight climate change .
“ Sen .
Sanders and I may disagree on tactics , but we share a common vision , ” Biden said .
“ Sen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarkable passion and tenacity to all of these issues.
” Florida offered the biggest prize for Biden , with 219 pledged delegates .
At stake in Illinois were 155 delegates and in Arizona were 67 delegates .
Ohio , with 136 delegates , postponed its vote because of concerns about coronavirus .
The virus declared a worldwide pandemic wreaked havoc with the primaries in all three states , according to voting advocates .
Poll workers failed to show up to work .
Election officials closed polling places for lack of staff and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elderly .
And workers lacked wipes and hand sanitizer to reduce the spread of disease .
“ This pandemic has impacted every aspect of our life , and every aspect of this campaign , ” Biden said .
“ Tackling this pandemic is a national emergency akin to fighting a war.
” But the victories built on Biden ’ s lead toward meeting the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee .
Biden had at least 1,121 delegates , compared to 839 for Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts say the remaining states offer little chance for Sanders to make large enough strides to overtake Biden .
For example , the Florida win continued Biden ’ s successful march across the south , after South Carolina revived his campaign Feb. 29 .
He swept southern states on March 3 Super Tuesday .
Still ahead are Georgia May 19 and Louisiana on June 20 .
The Democratic primary schedule has a bit of a lull for the next month .
Puerto Rico holds a primary March 29 .
April 4 primaries include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 and Wyoming ’ s caucuses with 14 .
Wisconsin has a primary April 7 .
And then on April 28 , five states will make their choices , including New York with 274 delegates and Pennsylvania with 186 delegates .
Trump reaches delegates to become the presumptive Republican nominee By winning the Florida and Illinois Republican primaries Tuesday night , President Donald Trump became the presumptive Republican party presidential nominee .
He exceeded the 1,276 delegates needed to secure the nomination .
“ The Republican Party is more unified and energized than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of President Trump ’ s leadership and clear record of accomplishment on behalf of all Americans , ” Brad Parscale , Trump ’ s 2020 campaign manager said in a statement .
Trump easily won every state that held a contest in the Republican primary .
Former Vice President Joe Biden has beaten Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Illinois Democratic primary , according to Associated Press projections from voter surveys .
The projected outcome , though not unexpected , will further cement Biden ’ s place as the clear frontrunner in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president started his day Tuesday with a more than 153-delegate lead over Sanders .
Voting in Illinois was set to wrap up at 8 p.m. EDT but was extended by an hour in dozens of Cook County precincts .
Polling this month had put Biden ahead in Illinois with a large double-digit margin , and so the outcome in the Prairie State had long been forecast .
On the other hand , coronavirus fears and early reports of low turnout in the state had raised questions about the predictive value of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at stake in Illinois , the second-largest delegate haul of the three states in play on Tuesday .
Voters in Florida and Arizona were also picking a Democratic candidate Tuesday in the first series of primary elections since the coronavirus has been thrust to the forefront of American consciousness .
Biden posted a tweet Tuesday encouraging voters to cast a ballot curbside or by mail , if possible .
Former Vice President Joe Biden has beaten Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Florida ’ s Democratic primary , the biggest prize among Tuesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Associated Press projections from voter surveys .
The victory continues Biden ’ s sweep of southern states in the quest to challenge President Donald Trump in November .
Illinois was also voting with 155 delegates and Arizona had 67 delegates at stake .
Ohio , with 136 delegates , postponed its vote because of concerns about coronavirus .
Biden ’ s win came as no surprise , after leading an average of statewide polling through Tuesday with 64 % to 25 % for Sanders , according to the tracking site FiveThirtyEight.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Florida , which is home to about 1.5 million Cuban Americans , was over U.S. policy toward the island nation .
Sanders , a Democratic socialist , has praised the literacy programs of Fidel Castro , the late dictator whose control over Cuba led to an estrangement from the U.S. for 50 years .
But Biden criticized Sanders for supposing communists in Cuba and other authoritarian regimes .
Chicago Board of Elections to go to court to extend voting by one hour in five precincts The Chicago Board of Elections is fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour Tuesday night amid low turnout due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Reports of numerous polling places without necessary equipment or poll workers popped up during the day , as election officials blamed the state ’ s governor not postponing the primary in light of the outbreak .
Jim Allen , spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election , told reporters the board asked the state last week to either delay the primary or move to a mail-in only race , multiple media outlets reported .
The governor 's office has disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the Chicago Board of Elections , those five precincts “ will be open until 8 pm pending court order .
All remaining precincts close at 7 pm.
” Across the state of Illinois , and the country , efforts to contain the virus has escalated with thousands of schools temporarily closing , and restaurants shuttering to only provide take out or delivery services .
Trump on Monday issued guidelines that called for Americans to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people .
The 2020 Democratic primary broke the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary , with more than 145,000 people going to the polls early , according to the Chicago Tribune .
But , election Day voter turnout in Chicago remained dismal through the night , with the voter turnout at just over 267,000 people of 6 pm .
The Chicago Board of Elections tweeted earlier : “ This primary is happening in extraordinary times that we have never seen before .
We admire the strength of all Chicagoans that are helping ensure our democracy continues today.
” The Ohio Democratic Party sued election officials on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person voting in the Buckeye State ’ s presidential primary because of the coronavirus , the latest legal fight to crop up over the move .
Democrats sued Secretary of State Frank LaRose , a Republican , arguing he does not have the legal authority to reschedule a make-up election absent action from state lawmakers .
Instead of setting a new election unilaterally , the suit seeks an extension of absentee balloting until late April .
Democrats , who filed the suit in the Ohio Supreme Court , said the litigation was intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a future election .
Without it , they said , they are concerned that they might not get another shot at in-person voting .
`` This primary election must move forward , '' said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper .
“ Yesterday ’ s actions did not create unchecked authority with the governor or secretary of state to run a new election . ''
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine announced that the state would push back its election , originally scheduled for Tuesday , to June 2 because of coronavirus fears .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have yet to hold their primaries to avoid changing dates .
Ohio is one of several states , along with Louisiana , Kentucky and Maryland , that have postponed voting because of the virus .
National party officials have requested that states “ use a variety of other critical mechanisms ” rather than moving primaries .
Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said Tuesday that it is “ critical that states provide clarity and not confusion , which could lead to disenfranchising voters.
” CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to push ahead with voting despite health concerns from the coronavirus pandemic .
Election Day voter turnout in Chicago was dismal – around 126,000 by 1 p.m. – below even local mayoral elections in the city and one-third the turnout pace of the 2020 primary election .
In the separate suburban Cook County , 119,000 had voted by 3 p.m. , also vastly below past primary turnouts .
Jim Allen , spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election , told reporters the board asked the state last week to either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in only race , multiple media outlets reported .
That drew a sharply worded tweet from Anne Caprara , Pritzker ’ s chief of staff : “ This is a lie .
And frankly , given what we are dealing with in this moment , I ’ m disgusted that Jim Allen would lie like this , ” Caprara said .
“ We offered them the national guard , young volunteers and assistance with keeping polling places clean.
” In another tweet , she added : “ The Governor has been trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who already voted , avoiding a legal crisis & keeping everyone safe .
The Chicago Board of Elections have been worried about scoring cheap political points.
” Although Election Day turnout will likely remain low in Chicago , the overall numbers could be lifted by strong early-voting figures .
The 2020 Democratic primary broke the city ’ s record for early voting in a primary , with more than 145,000 people going to the polls early , according to the Chicago Tribune .
It eclipsed the 140,000 who voted early in Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city also broke a World War II-era record with 118,000 vote-by-mail ballot requests .
Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden is the heavy favorite to win the most delegates in Illinois .
The last two polls taken of likely Democratic voters in Illinois each found Biden ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by more than 20 percentage points .
The Democratic National Committee is urging states who have yet to hold their primaries to avoid changing primary dates due to the coronavirus pandemic .
DNC chairman Tom Perez said in a statement that states should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical mechanisms that will make voting easier and safer for voters and election officials alike , ” instead “ of moving primaries to later in the cycle when timing around the virus remains unpredictable.
” He noted that states should use a vote-by-mail system or if they can still vote in-person under public health guidelines , then they should expand days and hours of early voting to reduce lines on Election Day .
`` As our country deals with the uncertainty of COVID-19 , it is critical that states provide clarity and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , ” Perez said in the statement .
The statement comes less than 24 hours after Ohio postponed their primary election last minute .
The state ’ s primary was supposed to be held Tuesday and a new date has yet to be set .
Several other states , including Louisiana , Kentucky and Maryland , have also postponed their primary dates .
“ What happened in Ohio last night has only bred more chaos and confusion , and the Democratic Party leadership in Ohio is working tirelessly to protect the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ Eligible voters deserve certainty , safety , and accessibility.
” “ The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy , and we must do everything we can to protect and expand that right instead of bringing our democratic process to a halt , ” Perez concluded .
In a primary election suddenly consumed by fears about the coronavirus pandemic , seven in ten Florida voters said they trust former Vice President Joe Biden more than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to handle a crisis , according to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results were widely consistent across the states voting Tuesday , the first to cast a ballot amid an outbreak of COVID-19 that has disrupted the routines of millions of Americans .
More than six in 10 Illinois voters and 63 % of Arizona voters said they would trust Biden more than Sanders to handle a crisis .
Because of the virus and increasingly stringent requests for social distancing , the National Election Pool did not conduct in-person exit polls for Tuesday 's primaries , NBC reported .
Instead , the outlets conducted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
After some Florida polling sites opened late Tuesday , Florida election officials defended their decision to press forward with its presidential primaries amid a global coronavirus pandemic .
Secretary of State Laurel Lee said one precinct in Broward County opened late but was `` up and running , '' The Tallahassee Democrat reported , and there were `` isolated precincts in Palm Beach County that have had some challenges . ''
`` All other counties reported on-time opening of all voting locations around the state , '' she said .
Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to polling sites over health concerns could pick up vote-by-mail ballots and turn them in by 7 p.m. EDT .
A group of civils rights organizations , including the New Florida Majority , LatinoJustice and Dream Defenders , sued Lee and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis in federal court Monday , seeking to extend vote-by-mail deadlines through March 27 , to allow people concerned about going to precincts a chance to vote .
Voting advocates say coronavirus led to chaos , maybe not lower turnout WASHINGTON – Democratic primary voters in Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at polling places that moved or closed because of coronavirus , but voting advocates said Tuesday that turnout might still eclipse the 2016 primary .
Alex Gulotta , Arizona state director of the advocacy group All Voting Is Local , said concerns about coronavirus prompted officials to close polling places , which confused voters about where to go .
In Maricopa County , which includes Phoenix , the number of polling places dropped from 240 to 151 , but anyone who is registered could vote at any of them .
But while in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of expectations , more people voted already by mail than in 2016 , Gulotta said .
“ We ’ ve had enormous turnout by mail , ” he said .
“ Turnout has been very low today , but overall , voting is more than 2016.
” Jay Young , executive director of Common Cause Illinois , said problems emerged early with election judges who didn ’ t show up and polling places closed .
Poll workers complained about a lack of wipes or hand sanitizer , he said .
“ Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hectic and trying day , ” he said , with in-person turnout running about one-third the rate of previous primaries .
Liza McClenaghan , board chair for Common Cause Florida , said a number of poll workers in Palm Beach County didn ’ t report to work Tuesday .
Some had keys to polling places , which prevented them opening , and others had keys to equipment , which prevented using them , she said .
The county invited voters to visit one of four election offices , or to mail in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been asking where to vote as they discovered closed polling places and were suspicious of having mail-in ballots delivered by strangers .
“ We ’ ve had a dog ’ s breakfast about information for poll closings , ” McClenaghan said .
“ We hope things improve shortly.
” Karen Hobert Flynn , president of Common Cause , said the challenges in the primaries will give election officials an opportunity to find remedies such as allowing more mail-in voting by the November election .
“ Today we ’ re faced with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our 50 years of advocacy , a global pandemic where all 50 states have now declared a state of emergency , ” she said .
WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. – Palm Beach County , Florida faced a shortage in poll workers Tuesday morning as Florida held its presidential primary amid the nation ’ s coronavirus pandemic .
Some voters found closed doors when they arrived at their voting sites , The Palm Beach Post reported .
Some locations opened late but others remained closed , prompting officials to allow voters pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s election offices .
Ahead of Election Day , around 800 poll workers notified Palm Beach elected officials they would not work because of concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak , leaving nearly 3,000 workers to cover Palm Beach County ’ s 454 voting sites .
Penny Powell of West Palm Beach told The Post she went to her polling place , Pine Jog Environmental Center , to find it closed .
She said a park worker sent her to the Supervisor of Elections ' main office , where she was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both close to each other so it wasn ’ t out of the way , ” she said .
“ So I ’ m good with it.
” She did not know why her location was not open .
Former Vice President Joe Biden is heavily favored to defeat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Florida ’ s Democratic presidential primary .
But turnout is a major wild card , particularly with the possibility it could disproportionately dissuade senior voters from the polls .
Biden performs better among old voters while young voters overwhelmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County location , the King ’ s Point clubhouse west of Delray Beach , only 32 people had voted as of noon .
Poll workers there said they expected a low turnout because of the coronavirus .
But at other locations , voters said they waited in line for nearly an hour .
As coronavirus precautions , voters are told to space out six feet apart as they wait to vote .
WASHINGTON – Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan announced Tuesday his state would postpone its primary , moving it from April 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Arizona , Florida , and Illinois hold their Democratic presidential primary elections Tuesday .
Ohio closed its polling places after Gov .
Mike DeWine , a Republican , declared a `` health emergency . ''
`` 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 a unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus , '' Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine said in a release late Monday .
The virus , which has been named COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in morning voting in Chicago .
The Chicago Board of Elections said there was `` extremely low turnout '' in morning voting .
From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. EDT , only 10,000 votes were cast , the Board said , as opposed to 30,000 votes that would be cast in a low turnout election .
Former Vice President Joe Biden currently leads the national delegate count with 898 , whereas Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , has 745 delegates .
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard , D-Hawaii , has two delegates .
Former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as Arizona Democrats head to the polls for the state ’ s primary election amid the global pandemic .
Maricopa County election officials , in reaction to the coronavirus , closed 80 polling places and made the remaining 151 voting locations `` vote centers , ” allowing voters to vote at any location , not just the one in their neighborhood .
Sanders visited Phoenix earlier this month to bolster his campaign .
He is counting on the state 's significant Latino population to provide a boost for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains well behind here .

Maureen Groppe, Ledyard King, John Fritze, Bart Jansen and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

Biden projected to win Arizona, capping wins in all three states voting Tuesday and continuing his streak over Sanders
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden to Sanders voters: 'I hear you. I know what we have to do.' Joe Biden addresses voters of his opponent Senator Bernie Sanders, seemingly asking for their support in the upcoming presidential election. USA TODAY
Check back for updates as polls close in three states amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Former Vice President Joe Biden swept all three states voting Tuesday in a series of primaries that were heavily influenced by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
His last win of the night came in Arizona, where the Associated Press projected a victory through voter surveys.
Biden secured early projected wins in Florida and Illinois, where he was long heavily favored to win, and he captured the state of Arizona shortly after polls there closed at 10 p.m. EDT. In all, more than 440 delegates were up for grabs in the latest round of voting, and Biden’s projected victories handed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a formidable challenge to catch up.
It was the first series of primaries to take place amid the national state of emergency President Donald Trump declared over the coronavirus pandemic, a circumstance that had the potential to upend the candidates’ messages as well as the technical process of running a primary election.
The Democratic primary schedule has a bit of a lull for the next month.
Puerto Rico holds a primary March 29. April 4 primaries include Hawaii with 24 delegates, Alaska with 15 and Wyoming’s caucuses with 14. Wisconsin has a primary April 7.
And then on April 28, five states will make their choices, including New York with 274 delegates and Pennsylvania with 186 delegates.
Ohioans were set to cast their ballots on Tuesday but state officials there announced they would postpone the election until sometime after the outbreak had passed.
“This pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives, and every aspect of this campaign,” Biden said in a video streamed from his home in Delaware, where he eschewed the traditional rally to deliver his election night remarks. “It’s at moments like these that we realize we need to put politics aside and work together as Americans.”
Both candidates avoided attacks on each other, or even discussing the latest contours of the race.
“In this moment of crisis it is imperative that we stand together,” Sanders said in his own video message. “This is a moment that we’ve got to be working together.”
Heading into the election, Biden had a better than 153-delegate lead over Sanders.
Trump, who never faced a significant challenge, also swept the primaries Tuesday and exceeded the 1,276 delegates needed to become the GOP’s presumptive nominee.
- John Fritze
Biden hopes to complete Tuesday sweep with uncertain Arizona
As Arizona’s polls closed Tuesday with uncertain results, former Vice President Joe Biden looked to add to his Democratic primary wins in Florida and Illinois against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to Associated Press projections from voter surveys.
Biden’s victories came on the same night President Donald Trump locked up the Republican nomination for his re-election.
Biden said from his home in Wilmington, Del., that the victories demonstrated a broad coalition to beat Trump, including blacks, Hispanics, suburban women and veterans. He commended Sanders’ supporters and said they share a vision for affordable health care, a need to reduce income inequality and to fight climate change.
“Sen. Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision,” Biden said. “Sen. Sanders and his supporters have brought a remarkable passion and tenacity to all of these issues.”
Florida offered the biggest prize for Biden, with 219 pledged delegates. At stake in Illinois were 155 delegates and in Arizona were 67 delegates.
Ohio, with 136 delegates, postponed its vote because of concerns about coronavirus.
The virus declared a worldwide pandemic wreaked havoc with the primaries in all three states, according to voting advocates. Poll workers failed to show up to work. Election officials closed polling places for lack of staff and to move them away from residential facilities for the elderly. And workers lacked wipes and hand sanitizer to reduce the spread of disease.
“This pandemic has impacted every aspect of our life, and every aspect of this campaign,” Biden said. “Tackling this pandemic is a national emergency akin to fighting a war.”
But the victories built on Biden’s lead toward meeting the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Biden had at least 1,121 delegates, compared to 839 for Sanders, according to an AP tabulation.
Political experts say the remaining states offer little chance for Sanders to make large enough strides to overtake Biden. For example, the Florida win continued Biden’s successful march across the south, after South Carolina revived his campaign Feb. 29. He swept southern states on March 3 Super Tuesday. Still ahead are Georgia May 19 and Louisiana on June 20.
The Democratic primary schedule has a bit of a lull for the next month.
Puerto Rico holds a primary March 29. April 4 primaries include Hawaii with 24 delegates, Alaska with 15 and Wyoming’s caucuses with 14. Wisconsin has a primary April 7.
And then on April 28, five states will make their choices, including New York with 274 delegates and Pennsylvania with 186 delegates.
- Bart Jansen
Trump reaches delegates to become the presumptive Republican nominee
By winning the Florida and Illinois Republican primaries Tuesday night, President Donald Trump became the presumptive Republican party presidential nominee.
He exceeded the 1,276 delegates needed to secure the nomination.
“The Republican Party is more unified and energized than ever before and it’s because of President Trump’s leadership and clear record of accomplishment on behalf of all Americans,” Brad Parscale, Trump’s 2020 campaign manager said in a statement.
Trump easily won every state that held a contest in the Republican primary.
--Savannah Behrmann
Biden projected to win Illinois primary
Former Vice President Joe Biden has beaten Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Illinois Democratic primary, according to Associated Press projections from voter surveys.
The projected outcome, though not unexpected, will further cement Biden’s place as the clear frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination. The former vice president started his day Tuesday with a more than 153-delegate lead over Sanders.
Voting in Illinois was set to wrap up at 8 p.m. EDT but was extended by an hour in dozens of Cook County precincts.
Polling this month had put Biden ahead in Illinois with a large double-digit margin, and so the outcome in the Prairie State had long been forecast. On the other hand, coronavirus fears and early reports of low turnout in the state had raised questions about the predictive value of recent polling.
There are 155 delegates at stake in Illinois, the second-largest delegate haul of the three states in play on Tuesday.
Voters in Florida and Arizona were also picking a Democratic candidate Tuesday in the first series of primary elections since the coronavirus has been thrust to the forefront of American consciousness. Biden posted a tweet Tuesday encouraging voters to cast a ballot curbside or by mail, if possible.
- John Fritze
Biden is projected to win Florida
Former Vice President Joe Biden has beaten Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Florida’s Democratic primary, the biggest prize among Tuesday’s primaries with 219 pledged delegates, according to Associated Press projections from voter surveys.
The victory continues Biden’s sweep of southern states in the quest to challenge President Donald Trump in November.
Illinois was also voting with 155 delegates and Arizona had 67 delegates at stake. Ohio, with 136 delegates, postponed its vote because of concerns about coronavirus.
Biden’s win came as no surprise, after leading an average of statewide polling through Tuesday with 64% to 25% for Sanders, according to the tracking site FiveThirtyEight.com.
One key distinction between the candidates in Florida, which is home to about 1.5 million Cuban Americans, was over U.S. policy toward the island nation.
Sanders, a Democratic socialist, has praised the literacy programs of Fidel Castro, the late dictator whose control over Cuba led to an estrangement from the U.S. for 50 years. But Biden criticized Sanders for supposing communists in Cuba and other authoritarian regimes.
- Bart Jansen
Chicago Board of Elections to go to court to extend voting by one hour in five precincts
The Chicago Board of Elections is fighting to extend voting in five precincts by an hour Tuesday night amid low turnout due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Reports of numerous polling places without necessary equipment or poll workers popped up during the day, as election officials blamed the state’s governor not postponing the primary in light of the outbreak.
Jim Allen, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election, told reporters the board asked the state last week to either delay the primary or move to a mail-in only race, multiple media outlets reported. The governor's office has disputed this "as a lie."
The board is going to court to extend voting time by one hour for 5 pct's: Pct 19 Ward 15; Pct 43 Ward 21; Pct 45 Ward 34; Pct 13 Ward 43; Pct 37 Ward 46. These precincts will be open until 8 pm pending court order. All remaining precincts close at 7pm. — ChicagoElection (@ChicagoElection) March 17, 2020
According to the Chicago Board of Elections, those five precincts “will be open until 8 pm pending court order. All remaining precincts close at 7 pm.”
Across the state of Illinois, and the country, efforts to contain the virus has escalated with thousands of schools temporarily closing, and restaurants shuttering to only provide take out or delivery services. Trump on Monday issued guidelines that called for Americans to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people.
The 2020 Democratic primary broke the city’s record for early voting in a primary, with more than 145,000 people going to the polls early, according to the Chicago Tribune. But, election Day voter turnout in Chicago remained dismal through the night, with the voter turnout at just over 267,000 people of 6 pm.
Voter turnout as of 6pm pic.twitter.com/R0OBaQBr8r — ChicagoElection (@ChicagoElection) March 17, 2020
The Chicago Board of Elections tweeted earlier: “This primary is happening in extraordinary times that we have never seen before. We admire the strength of all Chicagoans that are helping ensure our democracy continues today.”
- Savannah Behrmann
Ohio Dems file suit to extend election
The Ohio Democratic Party sued election officials on Tuesday over their unusual decision to cancel in-person voting in the Buckeye State’s presidential primary because of the coronavirus, the latest legal fight to crop up over the move.
Democrats sued Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, arguing he does not have the legal authority to reschedule a make-up election absent action from state lawmakers. Instead of setting a new election unilaterally, the suit seeks an extension of absentee balloting until late April.
Democrats, who filed the suit in the Ohio Supreme Court, said the litigation was intended in part to preserve the option of a future election. Without it, they said, they are concerned that they might not get another shot at in-person voting.
"This primary election must move forward," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper. “Yesterday’s actions did not create unchecked authority with the governor or secretary of state to run a new election."
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state would push back its election, originally scheduled for Tuesday, to June 2 because of coronavirus fears.
But Democratic officials have urged states that have yet to hold their primaries to avoid changing dates. Ohio is one of several states, along with Louisiana, Kentucky and Maryland, that have postponed voting because of the virus.
National party officials have requested that states “use a variety of other critical mechanisms” rather than moving primaries. Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said Tuesday that it is “critical that states provide clarity and not confusion, which could lead to disenfranchising voters.”
- The Columbus Dispatch. John Fritze/USA TODAY
Illinois, Chicago election officials spar over coronavirus decision
CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago election officials feuded Tuesday over the state’s decision to push ahead with voting despite health concerns from the coronavirus pandemic.
Election Day voter turnout in Chicago was dismal – around 126,000 by 1 p.m. – below even local mayoral elections in the city and one-third the turnout pace of the 2020 primary election. In the separate suburban Cook County, 119,000 had voted by 3 p.m., also vastly below past primary turnouts.
Jim Allen, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election, told reporters the board asked the state last week to either delay the primary or move to a mail-in only race, multiple media outlets reported.
That drew a sharply worded tweet from Anne Caprara, Pritzker’s chief of staff:
“This is a lie. And frankly, given what we are dealing with in this moment, I’m disgusted that Jim Allen would lie like this,” Caprara said. “We offered them the national guard, young volunteers and assistance with keeping polling places clean.”
This is a lie. And frankly, given what we are dealing with in this moment, I’m disgusted that Jim Allen would lie like this. We offered them the national guard, young volunteers and assistance with keeping polling places clean. Statement coming in a few minutes from our office. https://t.co/2oqLvJ8mlw — Anne Caprara (@anacaprana) March 17, 2020
In another tweet, she added: “The Governor has been trying to balance continuity of government, not disenfranchising people who already voted, avoiding a legal crisis & keeping everyone safe. The Chicago Board of Elections have been worried about scoring cheap political points.”
Although Election Day turnout will likely remain low in Chicago, the overall numbers could be lifted by strong early-voting figures.
The 2020 Democratic primary broke the city’s record for early voting in a primary, with more than 145,000 people going to the polls early, according to the Chicago Tribune. It eclipsed the 140,000 who voted early in Chicago in the 2016 Democratic Primary. The city also broke a World War II-era record with 118,000 vote-by-mail ballot requests.
Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden is the heavy favorite to win the most delegates in Illinois. The last two polls taken of likely Democratic voters in Illinois each found Biden ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by more than 20 percentage points.
-- Joey Garrison and Grace Hauck
DNC calls on states to avoid changing primary dates
The Democratic National Committee is urging states who have yet to hold their primaries to avoid changing primary dates due to the coronavirus pandemic.
DNC chairman Tom Perez said in a statement that states should instead “use a variety of other critical mechanisms that will make voting easier and safer for voters and election officials alike,” instead “of moving primaries to later in the cycle when timing around the virus remains unpredictable.”
He noted that states should use a vote-by-mail system or if they can still vote in-person under public health guidelines, then they should expand days and hours of early voting to reduce lines on Election Day.
"As our country deals with the uncertainty of COVID-19, it is critical that states provide clarity and not confusion, which could lead to disenfranchising voters,” Perez said in the statement.
The statement comes less than 24 hours after Ohio postponed their primary election last minute. The state’s primary was supposed to be held Tuesday and a new date has yet to be set. Several other states, including Louisiana, Kentucky and Maryland, have also postponed their primary dates.
“What happened in Ohio last night has only bred more chaos and confusion, and the Democratic Party leadership in Ohio is working tirelessly to protect the right to vote,” Perez said in a statement. “Eligible voters deserve certainty, safety, and accessibility.”
“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and we must do everything we can to protect and expand that right instead of bringing our democratic process to a halt,” Perez concluded.
-- Rebecca Morin
Primary day poll shows Joe Biden with edge on handling crisis
In a primary election suddenly consumed by fears about the coronavirus pandemic, seven in ten Florida voters said they trust former Vice President Joe Biden more than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to handle a crisis, according to an NBC report on the poll.
The results were widely consistent across the states voting Tuesday, the first to cast a ballot amid an outbreak of COVID-19 that has disrupted the routines of millions of Americans. More than six in 10 Illinois voters and 63% of Arizona voters said they would trust Biden more than Sanders to handle a crisis.
Because of the virus and increasingly stringent requests for social distancing, the National Election Pool did not conduct in-person exit polls for Tuesday's primaries, NBC reported. Instead, the outlets conducted a telephone survey of voters before Tuesday's vote.
-- John Fritze
Florida election officials defend decision to maintain in-person primary voting
After some Florida polling sites opened late Tuesday, Florida election officials defended their decision to press forward with its presidential primaries amid a global coronavirus pandemic.
Secretary of State Laurel Lee said one precinct in Broward County opened late but was "up and running," The Tallahassee Democrat reported, and there were "isolated precincts in Palm Beach County that have had some challenges."
"All other counties reported on-time opening of all voting locations around the state," she said.
Lee said voters who did not want to go to polling sites over health concerns could pick up vote-by-mail ballots and turn them in by 7 p.m. EDT.
A group of civils rights organizations, including the New Florida Majority, LatinoJustice and Dream Defenders, sued Lee and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in federal court Monday, seeking to extend vote-by-mail deadlines through March 27, to allow people concerned about going to precincts a chance to vote.
-- Joey Garrison and The Tallahassee Democrat
Voting advocates say coronavirus led to chaos, maybe not lower turnout
WASHINGTON – Democratic primary voters in Florida, Illinois and Arizona found some confusion at polling places that moved or closed because of coronavirus, but voting advocates said Tuesday that turnout might still eclipse the 2016 primary.
Alex Gulotta, Arizona state director of the advocacy group All Voting Is Local, said concerns about coronavirus prompted officials to close polling places, which confused voters about where to go. In Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, the number of polling places dropped from 240 to 151, but anyone who is registered could vote at any of them.
But while in-person voting was running low at about 20% of expectations, more people voted already by mail than in 2016, Gulotta said.
“We’ve had enormous turnout by mail,” he said. “Turnout has been very low today, but overall, voting is more than 2016.”
Jay Young, executive director of Common Cause Illinois, said problems emerged early with election judges who didn’t show up and polling places closed. Poll workers complained about a lack of wipes or hand sanitizer, he said.
“Here in Illinois, it’s been a hectic and trying day,” he said, with in-person turnout running about one-third the rate of previous primaries.
Liza McClenaghan, board chair for Common Cause Florida, said a number of poll workers in Palm Beach County didn’t report to work Tuesday. Some had keys to polling places, which prevented them opening, and others had keys to equipment, which prevented using them, she said.
The county invited voters to visit one of four election offices, or to mail in ballots. But McClenaghan said elderly voters have been asking where to vote as they discovered closed polling places and were suspicious of having mail-in ballots delivered by strangers.
“We’ve had a dog’s breakfast about information for poll closings,” McClenaghan said. “We hope things improve shortly.”
Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause, said the challenges in the primaries will give election officials an opportunity to find remedies such as allowing more mail-in voting by the November election.
“Today we’re faced with a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen in our 50 years of advocacy, a global pandemic where all 50 states have now declared a state of emergency,” she said.
– Bart Jansen
Florida deals with poll-worker shortage, closed voting sites due to coronavirus
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach County, Florida faced a shortage in poll workers Tuesday morning as Florida held its presidential primary amid the nation’s coronavirus pandemic.
Some voters found closed doors when they arrived at their voting sites, The Palm Beach Post reported. Some locations opened late but others remained closed, prompting officials to allow voters pick up vote-by-mail ballots at any of the county’s election offices.
Ahead of Election Day, around 800 poll workers notified Palm Beach elected officials they would not work because of concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving nearly 3,000 workers to cover Palm Beach County’s 454 voting sites.
Penny Powell of West Palm Beach told The Post she went to her polling place, Pine Jog Environmental Center, to find it closed. She said a park worker sent her to the Supervisor of Elections' main office, where she was able to vote.
“They’re both close to each other so it wasn’t out of the way,” she said. “So I’m good with it.” She did not know why her location was not open.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is heavily favored to defeat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Florida’s Democratic presidential primary. But turnout is a major wild card, particularly with the possibility it could disproportionately dissuade senior voters from the polls. Biden performs better among old voters while young voters overwhelmingly back Sanders.
At one Palm Beach County location, the King’s Point clubhouse west of Delray Beach, only 32 people had voted as of noon. Poll workers there said they expected a low turnout because of the coronavirus.
But at other locations, voters said they waited in line for nearly an hour. As coronavirus precautions, voters are told to space out six feet apart as they wait to vote.
-- Joey Garrison and The Palm Beach Post
Maryland postpones primary to June as 3 states vote
WASHINGTON – Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday his state would postpone its primary, moving it from April 28 to June 2.
The move comes as Arizona, Florida, and Illinois hold their Democratic presidential primary elections Tuesday. Ohio closed its polling places after Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, declared a "health emergency."
"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 a unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a release late Monday.
The virus, which has been named COVID-19, already appears to have depressed turnout in morning voting in Chicago. The Chicago Board of Elections said there was "extremely low turnout" in morning voting. From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. EDT, only 10,000 votes were cast, the Board said, as opposed to 30,000 votes that would be cast in a low turnout election.
Former Vice President Joe Biden currently leads the national delegate count with 898, whereas Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has 745 delegates. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, has two delegates.
-- Nicholas Wu
Arizona's largest county forced to close some polling locations
Former Vice President Joe Biden is heavily favored to defeat Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as Arizona Democrats head to the polls for the state’s primary election amid the global pandemic.
Maricopa County election officials, in reaction to the coronavirus, closed 80 polling places and made the remaining 151 voting locations "vote centers,” allowing voters to vote at any location, not just the one in their neighborhood.
Sanders visited Phoenix earlier this month to bolster his campaign. He is counting on the state's significant Latino population to provide a boost for him, but recent polling suggests he remains well behind here.
--Ronald J. Hansen and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Arizona Republic.


usatoday--2020-03-18--Tuesday Democratic primary elections: Get live results from Arizona, Florida, Illinois

Three states – Arizona , Florida , and Illinois – held primary elections tonight , with former Vice President Joe @ @ @ @ @ leading the Democratic race .
Rep Tulsi Gabbard is still in the race , but @ @ @ @ @ by hundreds of delegates .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine 's administration ordered polls closed @ @ @ @ @ health emergency '' because of the coronavirus pandemic .
DeWine announced this change at 10:08 @ @ @ @ @ ordered polls to remain open .
Many states and cities have taken extra precautions to @ @ @ @ @ virus .
Dozens of K-12 schools and universities have suspended classes or moved classes online @ @ @ @ @ or takeout only .
Many Americans have begun working from home and practicing social distancing @ @ @ @ @ live coverage of the primaries all night and you can get results as they start @ @ @ @ @ close .

Tuesday Democratic primary elections: Get live results from Arizona, Florida, Illinois
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden to Sanders voters: 'I hear you. I know what we have to do.' Joe Biden addresses voters of his opponent Senator Bernie Sanders, seemingly asking for their support in the upcoming presidential election. USA TODAY
Three states – Arizona, Florida, and Illinois – held primary elections tonight, with former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders leading the Democratic race. Rep Tulsi Gabbard is still in the race, but she trails Biden and Sanders by hundreds of delegates.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's administration ordered polls closed on Tuesday as a "health emergency" because of the coronavirus pandemic.
DeWine announced this change at 10:08 p.m. Monday after a judge ordered polls to remain open.
Many states and cities have taken extra precautions to slow the spread of the virus. Dozens of K-12 schools and universities have suspended classes or moved classes online. Restaurants are doing delivery or takeout only. Many Americans have begun working from home and practicing social distancing.
USA TODAY will have live coverage of the primaries all night and you can get results as they start coming in after the polls close.


usatoday--2020-03-18--Prisons restrict inmates, staffers' movements as they try to keep coronavirus out

WASHINGTON – More than 500,000 inmates in the nation ’ s largest prison systems were on near-lockdown this week as authorities scrambled to guard against outbreaks of the coronavirus .
California , Florida , Texas and the federal Bureau of Prisons have all suspended visitation and largely restricted the movement of prisoners within their systems .
The restrictions underscore the growing concern for vulnerable populations living in close quarters where seasonal illnesses often spread quickly .
The looming threat posed by the pandemic represents `` one of the greatest fears for any prison director , '' said Laurie Robinson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a congressional task force that examined the federal prison system in 2015 .
`` You have a confined population that already may not be in the best of health due to prolonged drug use and alcohol abuse , '' Robinson said .
`` There is often no way to set up an effective quarantine '' because prisoners are confined in small cells .
`` You also have staff in those very close quarters that makes them so vulnerable , too . ''
Mary Price , general counsel for the prisoner advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on state and local governments to apply `` compassionate release '' provisions to allow elderly and chronically ill inmates to serve out the remainder of their sentences at home .
“ Prison and jail medical units will rapidly be overrun by a COVID-19 outbreak and will need as many beds as possible for critical care patients , '' Price said .
`` It makes no sense to keep other people who are terminally ill or medically debilitated occupying those beds.
” Tuesday , a coalition of civil rights groups including the Southern Poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mississippi and Florida to release vulnerable inmates who no longer represent threats to their communities .
Larry Levine , a federal prison consultant who prepares offenders for incarceration , said inmates and their families are expressing growing anxiety about the threat , especially to those who have preexisting illnesses .
`` I have about eight people in medical facilities scattered across the federal system , '' Levine said .
`` They are still getting their meds , but they are very worried that the supply chain might run out given the shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The federal Bureau of Prisons , the nation 's largest detention system with more than 170,000 inmates , said the agency has prepared since January to deal with coronavirus-related problems .
It said no infections had been reported as of Tuesday .
Since Friday , the bureau has reported that six inmates in Seattle tested negative for the virus after exhibiting flu-like symptoms .
A staffer in Kentucky remains in quarantine as a precaution after being exposed to a confirmed case outside the system .
Late Friday , the agency suspended visitation at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 30 days .
That includes attorney-client meetings , except when approved by prison authorities .
All inmate transfers and staff travel have been halted as well .
Shane Fausey , president of the federal prison workers union , applauded the action as `` unprecedented . ''
`` These extensive measures will help ensure the safety and security of our facilities while protecting our federal law enforcement officers that walk the toughest neighborhoods in America , '' Fausey said .
Similar restrictions have been announced by state prison systems across the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported no confirmed cases of the virus as of Tuesday .
Authorities in California also put restrictions on parole hearings , suspending in-person participation of victims and prosecutors .
In Pennsylvania , authorities are no longer admitting prisoners to three facilities .
Two of the prisons operate nursing homes for offenders ; another serves as an inmate cancer ward .
John Wetzel , chief of Pennsylvania 's prison system , said the decision to restrict new admissions was made over the weekend after learning of the increased vulnerability to nursing homes across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak has been deadly .
`` Minute to minute , there could be an adjustment in our operations , '' Wetzel said of the 45,000 inmate system .
`` We 're monitoring conditions all of the time .
... We have 25 prisons – at some point we are going to get a case .
The best-case scenario is that we are able to delay that until cases in Pennsylvania start going down and we get over the hump . ''
In Texas : Prisons at risk of outbreak Roger Werholtz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corrections , said the actions by the federal government and states are encouraging .
But the agencies still face the challenge of safeguarding prisoners who can not follow one of the key recommendations to avoid contracting the virus : to limit social interactions .
`` This idea of social distancing can not be achieved in prison like we are asking the general public to do , '' Werholtz said .
`` And when you want to segregate people from each other , you can not do it in many cases .
It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population in ways that can be beneficial . ''
Megan Quattlebaum , head of the Council of State Governments Justice Center , said state prison directors also must vet the medical histories of incoming inmates .
`` The pipeline to state prisons often runs through the county jails , '' she said , where screening practices are not uniform nor controlled by state prison officials .
`` There are myriad challenges , '' Quattlebaum said .
`` These are times for wrenching decisions .
And I have n't talked to anybody who has @ @ @ @ @ @

Prisons restrict inmates, staffers' movements as they try to keep coronavirus out
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Americans flock to stores for guns, ammunition American shoppers are stocking up on more than just food during the coronavirus outbreak. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – More than 500,000 inmates in the nation’s largest prison systems were on near-lockdown this week as authorities scrambled to guard against outbreaks of the coronavirus.
California, Florida, Texas and the federal Bureau of Prisons have all suspended visitation and largely restricted the movement of prisoners within their systems.
The restrictions underscore the growing concern for vulnerable populations living in close quarters where seasonal illnesses often spread quickly.
The looming threat posed by the pandemic represents "one of the greatest fears for any prison director," said Laurie Robinson, a former assistant attorney general who was part of a congressional task force that examined the federal prison system in 2015.
"You have a confined population that already may not be in the best of health due to prolonged drug use and alcohol abuse," Robinson said. "There is often no way to set up an effective quarantine" because prisoners are confined in small cells. "You also have staff in those very close quarters that makes them so vulnerable, too."
Mary Price, general counsel for the prisoner advocacy group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, called on state and local governments to apply "compassionate release" provisions to allow elderly and chronically ill inmates to serve out the remainder of their sentences at home.
“Prison and jail medical units will rapidly be overrun by a COVID-19 outbreak and will need as many beds as possible for critical care patients," Price said. "It makes no sense to keep other people who are terminally ill or medically debilitated occupying those beds.”
Tuesday, a coalition of civil rights groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center urged prison officials in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida to release vulnerable inmates who no longer represent threats to their communities.
Larry Levine, a federal prison consultant who prepares offenders for incarceration, said inmates and their families are expressing growing anxiety about the threat, especially to those who have preexisting illnesses.
"I have about eight people in medical facilities scattered across the federal system," Levine said. "They are still getting their meds, but they are very worried that the supply chain might run out given the shutdown of businesses on the outside."
The federal Bureau of Prisons, the nation's largest detention system with more than 170,000 inmates, said the agency has prepared since January to deal with coronavirus-related problems. It said no infections had been reported as of Tuesday.
Since Friday, the bureau has reported that six inmates in Seattle tested negative for the virus after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. A staffer in Kentucky remains in quarantine as a precaution after being exposed to a confirmed case outside the system.
Late Friday, the agency suspended visitation at all of its 122 facilities for at least 30 days. That includes attorney-client meetings, except when approved by prison authorities.
All inmate transfers and staff travel have been halted as well.
Shane Fausey, president of the federal prison workers union, applauded the action as "unprecedented."
"These extensive measures will help ensure the safety and security of our facilities while protecting our federal law enforcement officers that walk the toughest neighborhoods in America," Fausey said.
Similar restrictions have been announced by state prison systems across the country. The largest, California and Texas, reported no confirmed cases of the virus as of Tuesday.
Authorities in California also put restrictions on parole hearings, suspending in-person participation of victims and prosecutors.
In Pennsylvania, authorities are no longer admitting prisoners to three facilities. Two of the prisons operate nursing homes for offenders; another serves as an inmate cancer ward.
John Wetzel, chief of Pennsylvania's prison system, said the decision to restrict new admissions was made over the weekend after learning of the increased vulnerability to nursing homes across the country, including in Washington state where the outbreak has been deadly.
"Minute to minute, there could be an adjustment in our operations," Wetzel said of the 45,000 inmate system. "We're monitoring conditions all of the time. ... We have 25 prisons – at some point we are going to get a case. The best-case scenario is that we are able to delay that until cases in Pennsylvania start going down and we get over the hump."
In Texas: Prisons at risk of outbreak
Roger Werholtz, former director of the Kansas Department of Corrections, said the actions by the federal government and states are encouraging. But the agencies still face the challenge of safeguarding prisoners who cannot follow one of the key recommendations to avoid contracting the virus: to limit social interactions.
"This idea of social distancing cannot be achieved in prison like we are asking the general public to do," Werholtz said. "And when you want to segregate people from each other, you cannot do it in many cases. It will be really difficult to lock down the population in ways that can be beneficial."
Megan Quattlebaum, head of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, said state prison directors also must vet the medical histories of incoming inmates.
"The pipeline to state prisons often runs through the county jails," she said, where screening practices are not uniform nor controlled by state prison officials.
"There are myriad challenges," Quattlebaum said. "These are times for wrenching decisions. And I haven't talked to anybody who has taken these decisions lightly."