Louisiana will postpone its April 4 primary election for more than two months, officials announced on Friday, becoming the first state in the nation to adjust its elections in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The news comes as officials in the next four states scheduled to vote in the presidential primary — Ohio, Arizona, Florida and Illinois — have all indicated that they intend to hold their elections on Tuesday as planned, issuing a joint statement on Friday expressing confidence that ballots can be safely cast.

The sudden decision by Louisiana comes as the viral outbreak has upended the presidential campaigns and people worry about gatherings and places where they might become infected.

“Today I have certified that a state of emergency exists and requested that the governor issue an executive order postponing the elections this spring,” Louisiana’s secretary of state, R. Kyle Ardoin, said at a news conference Friday afternoon. “I want to thank the governor and his staff for working with us in a bipartisan manner to accomplish this mission.”