Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks about the new coronavirus while US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, right, listens on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (Photo: AP)

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The US southern state of Louisiana announced Friday it will postpone the scheduled April 4 primary due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first US state to take such a move.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed a proclamation on Friday to move the election to June 20, local media reported.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) said the change could result in Louisiana losing at least half of its delegates, due to a potential violation of their timing rule that all states hold contests by June 9, said a CBS report.

"We will continue to work with every state party as they adjust their delegate selection plans around coronavirus. Any violation of our rules could result in a penalty that would include a state losing at least half of its delegates. This change will be reviewed by the Rules and Bylaws Committee," a DNC spokesperson told CBS News.

Currently, the state has at least 30 positive cases of coronavirus, said the CBS report.

President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency over the pandemic.