State Democratic leaders announced they are closing the Oregon Capitol to the public and nonessential employees starting Wednesday.

Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek said they hoped the closure would help slow the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.

“This is a difficult decision,” the leaders said in a statement issued Tuesday. “The Capitol is the people’s building. Keeping it open and accessible will always be important to us.”

Courtney and Kotek already had canceled group meetings, rallies and tours at the Capitol last week but said Gov. Kate Brown’s call for increased social distancing led to more extreme measures.

However, the Democratic leaders said they still planned to hold a special session in coming weeks to address ways to help Oregonians manage through the pandemic. To address public health issues, they said they’ll employ social distancing, allow people to testify at hearings remotely, limit staffing and increase cleaning.

The Oregon Legislature’s Special Joint Committee on Coronavirus Response will meet for the first time at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Testimony will be accepted via email through 5 p.m. Wednesday. The committee’s hearing will be live-streamed through the legislature’s website.

-- Laura Gunderson

lgunderson@oregonian.com

Twitter @lgunderson

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