Texas became the latest state to ban abortions “to comply with the state’s temporary suspension of surgeries that are not deemed ‘medically necessary’ amid the COVID-19 outbreak.”
“Any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother must be suspended. Those in violation will face penalties of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton
Texas joins Ohio in ordering the suspension of abortion service as part of state-wide directives to preserve personal protective equipment and other medical resources for those treating coronavirus. Over the weekend, Ohio’s attorney general issued guidance that any abortion procedure requiring the use of personal protective equipment, which includes things like gloves and masks, must stop as part of the state Health Department’s directive to discontinue “non-essential” surgeries.
But at least five of Ohio’s six surgical providers say abortion is essential and time-sensitive. Because of that, they say there won’t be any interruption of services.
