March 17 coronavirus news

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said today that the state's health director will order the polls closed tomorrow "as a health emergency."

Ohio's presidential primary had been set for tomorrow. DeWine had urged the primary to be postponed until a later date, but a judge rejected the petition earlier this evening.

The secretary of state "will seek remedy through the courts to extend voting options" tomorrow while the polls are closed, DeWine said in a statement.

The move is a complicated one for Ohio officials, as voters have already started voting in the state where 136 pledged delegates are at stake. 

Serge Telle, the state minister of Monaco, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the principality's Ministry of Health.

Health authorities were informed Monday morning about the test results, according to a statement from the ministry.

An epidemiological investigation is underway to trace Telle's movements in the past few days, according to the statement. 

He is not showing any major symptoms, and is quarantined at home, where he's continuing his professional activities through video conference. 

Hong Kong will require all arriving travelers from foreign countries to be quarantined for 14 days at home, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced during a weekly press briefing today.

The city will also issue a red outbound travel alert on all foreign countries with the exception of mainland China, Taiwan, and Macao, she said.

Currently, Hong Kong requires anyone traveling from mainland China to the city to self-quarantine at home for 14 days. 

The new measures will take effect on Thursday, and will affect both residents and non-residents.

Rise in imported cases: This comes as the number of imported cases have risen in recent days. In the past two weeks, 50 of the 57 new cases reported have been imported to Hong Kong from overseas, Lam said.

The city now has a total of 157 cases.

Lam urged travelers to practice personal hygiene and wear face masks during the journey, and said the government would provide airlines with masks to prevent a possible shortage.

She also spoke about extending existing measures as the pandemic stretches on; schools have been closed for months now, and are unlikely to fully reopen in the next month as previously planned, Lam said.

The US chain Dollar General is dedicating its first open hour every day to "senior shoppers" in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new modified hours will begin on Tuesday local time, the Dollar General Corporation said in a statement.

The measures are to meet the needs of more elderly shoppers, "who are one of the groups most vulnerable to the Covid-19 coronavirus," the statement said.

Colorado is closing all gyms, theaters, and casinos, and placing restrictions on bars and restaurants, the state's Department of Public Health and Environment announced on Monday.

Food establishments aren't allowed to serve food and drink on premises, but can do so through delivery, takeout, and drive-through service.

The new measures will go into effect on Wednesday morning local time, for 30 days.

“We understand the gravity of this public health order, and the disruption it will cause,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Venezuela's embattled President Nicolas Maduro announced a nationwide quarantine during a televised coronavirus briefing earlier today. 

The "social quarantine" will go into effect 5 a.m. local time Tuesday, Maduro said in the briefing.

Police, health officials, and local governments will work together to enforce the quarantine, according to a statement from the presidential press office.

Venezuela has 33 coronavirus cases, according to Maduro. 

Several countries have put their citizens under partial or total lockdown amid the growing spread of coronavirus around the world:

A US Navy sailor in San Diego has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement from the Navy.

The sailor is a presumptive positive case, meaning results are pending final confirmation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

He is stationed at Naval Base Point Loma, and is in quarantine at his residence. People who have been in close contact with him are also self-isolating as military health officials conduct further contact tracing, said the statement.

Malaysia will impose a nationwide movement control order from Wednesday until the end of the month to combat the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced Monday night.

The order includes a "comprehensive restriction on movements and public gatherings," including a ban on all religious, sports, social, and cultural activities, the state-run Bernama News Agency reported. All houses of worship and business premises will be closed, except for supermarkets, wet markets, grocery shops and convenience stores selling daily necessities.

Most government premises, except those providing essential services such as water and electricity, will be closed, Bernama reported. All educational institutions will also be closed until the end of the month. 

Malaysians will be banned from traveling abroad, while foreign tourists and visitors will be restricted from entering the country, it added.