As campaigners in the UK struggle to get early medical abortions at home temporarily approved, across the pond, women in Ohio and Texas are facing being unable to get any abortion treatment at all during the coronavirus outbreak.
Legislators in the US states have ordered medical centres and health care providers to cancel all 'nonessential' abortions, citing federal guidelines designed to conserve medical supplies needed in the continued fight against the spread of Covid-19.
However, reproductive rights activists claim this is a political move made by the conservative attorney generals for Ohio and Texas, Dave Yost and Ken Paxton, respectively.
Both lawmakers made similar statements about following the directives issued by their state governors and said they would be using the ‘full force of the law’ to ensure compliance. Paxton even said healthcare providers could face fines of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time if they are found to have breached the governor’s executive order.
Many pro-life groups have been lobbying governors across the US to stop abortion services.
‘If abortion is a “choice” then abortion is an elective procedure,’ says Mark Harrington, President and Founder, Created Equal. ‘These centres must close their doors to help stop the spread of Covid-19. If they believe in the health and safety of Americans, they must comply with these orders to cease providing abortions.’
Planned Parenthood in Ohio said they would continue to provide abortion services because it is ‘essential healthcare.’
‘Under that order, Planned Parenthood can still continue providing essential procedures, including surgical abortion, and our health centres continue to provide services that our patients depend on,’ the women’s health said in a statement.
Many high-profile figures have spoken out against the measures on social media.
‘Republicans in Texas and Ohio are using a global pandemic to control women’s bodies,’ says former Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris. ‘It’s utterly despicable.’
Abortion activist Renee Bracey Sherman said: ‘People cannot be forced to travel out of state or wait weeks, maybe months on end, to get an abortion DURING A PANDEMIC. The anti-abortion movement is using a public health crisis to essentially ban abortion.’
‘Texas just used a pandemic to criminalize abortion,’ tweeted the bestselling author Stephanie Land.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: How Will The Crisis Affect Mothers About To Give Birth?