Today's Brew provides updates about election changes and government pronouncements due to coronavirus + and elected officials who’ve tested positive for the disease
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Welcome to the Monday, March 16, Brew. Ballotpedia is covering the effect of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on politics, government, and elections. Today's Brew introduces you to our latest resources designed to help you stay up-to-date on this rapidly evolving story. It includes the following information, updated through Sunday afternoon:

* States postpone, cancel primaries and conventions
* Summary of state and federal government responses
* Tracking the officials and candidates being treated for coronavirus

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** STATES POSTPONE, CANCEL PRIMARIES AND CONVENTIONS IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS
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Nine states were scheduled to hold statewide primaries, runoffs, or presidential primary events between March 17 and March 31. States and parties with spring elections or conventions are adjusting their procedures to deal with the virus.
GEORGIA: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) announced Saturday that the state's March 24 presidential primary, along with some local elections, would be held on May 19 alongside primaries for congressional and state offices.
Raffensperger said, “all votes already cast in person and all absentee ballots will be counted and every Georgia voter that has not yet had a chance to cast a ballot in the March 24 elections will be able to do so on May 19, along with the elections already scheduled for that date.”
LOUISIANA: Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin (R) announced that the state's April 4 presidential primaries would take place on June 20. Additionally, Louisiana will postpone its May 9 municipal general elections until July 25.

UTAH: The Utah Democratic Party canceled its state convention, originally scheduled for April 24 and 25. Bernie Sanders won Utah's Democratic primary and President Donald Trump won the states' Republican primary March 3.

NORTH DAKOTA: The Democratic Party of North Dakota canceled its convention, originally scheduled for March 19-22. The convention would have endorsed candidates for statewide office and elected delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

WYOMING: The Democratic Party of Wyoming canceled its in-person presidential caucus, originally scheduled for April 4. It encouraged members to vote by mail instead. If voting by mail, ballots must be postmarked by March 20, 2020. The Democratic Party also announced it would also set up in-person ballot pickup and drop off locations on two dates: March 28 and April 4, 2020.

For ongoing updates on changes to election dates and procedures during the coronavirus pandemic, click the link below.

Learn more ([link removed])

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** SUMMARY OF STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSES
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Federal, state, and local governments are responding to the coronavirus pandemic in a variety of ways, including declaring states of emergency, suspending lawmaking activities, shutting down schools, and banning gatherings of various sizes. Listed below are key responses from the federal and state governments through Sunday afternoon. Click the link at the bottom of this story for updated information, and as always, check with your official government sources for more detail.


** FEDERAL
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President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on March 13, and as of Sunday afternoon had issued a travel ban affecting foreign nationals from the European Union, United Kingdom, Ireland, and China. The White House, Congress, and Supreme Court are closed to the public.


** STATES
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Twenty-nine states had declared a state of emergency as of late Sunday. Other actions taken since Friday include:

* Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) declared a state of emergency and closed schools across the state from March 18 through April 1.
* Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) ordered all schools in the state to close from March 17 to March 27.
* Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) banned most gatherings of over 250 people, and the state legislature adjourned until March 20.
* Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) issued an executive order closing all schools in the state from March 16 through at least March 31.
* Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) declared a state of emergency and closed schools from March 16 through March 27.
* The Florida Department of Education closed schools in the state for two weeks effective March 16.
* Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) closed all schools until the end of March, banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people for 30 days, and said he would ban dine-in services at all bars and restaurants from the end of business on March 16 through March 30.
* Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced the closing of K-12 schools in the state for at least two weeks beginning March 16.
* Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed an executive order banning gatherings of more than 250 people and closing all K-12 schools statewide until April 13.
* Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones announced the Maryland General Assembly will adjourn on March 18.
* Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) issued an executive order prohibiting public gatherings of over 25 people and prohibiting bars and restaurants in the state from allowing on-site consumption of food and beverages. He also announced that all schools in the state would be closed from March 17 until April 6.
* Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced the closure of all K-12 schools in the state for at least eight school days, beginning Wednesday.
* Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) announced that all public K-12 schools in the state would be closed from March 16 to March 27.
* Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) announced that schools across the state would close until at least April 6 beginning on March 16.
* New Hampshire's state legislature suspended all legislative activities until at least March 20.
* Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced the closure of all K-12 schools in the state for two weeks beginning March 16.
* South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) declared a state of emergency and announced the closure of all schools for the remainder of March starting Monday.
* South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) declared a state of emergency.
* Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) declared a state of emergency.
* Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close for at least two weeks starting March 16 and banned gatherings of more than 100 people.
* Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close for six weeks starting March 17 and banned gatherings of more than 250 people.
* Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) closed all K-12 schools from March 18 through April 5.

Click the link below to see the latest responses by the federal and state governments, and responses in the 10 largest cities in the country by population.

Learn more→ ([link removed])
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** THE OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES BEING TREATED FOR CORONAVIRUS
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At least three elected officials in the country had tested positive for coronavirus as of Sunday afternoon: New York State Assembly members Charles Barron (D) and Helene Weinstein (D), and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R).

President Donald Trump (R) said he was tested for coronavirus on Saturday and his doctor subsequently released a memo stating that the president had tested negative. South Dakota State Rep. Spencer Gosch (R) and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giminez (R) also announced negative tests.

Three U.S. Senators and seven members of the House of Representatives announced they are self-quarantining following meetings or contacts with other people who subsequently tested positive for coronavirus.

We will continue to track the incumbents, candidates, and other government officials within our scope of coverage who are treated for coronavirus. To follow this important list, click the link below.

Learn more→ ([link removed])
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