Texas becomes latest state to halt abortions due to coronavirus

Campaigners fear outbreak is being used by Republicans to push through anti-abortion policies

Abortions were suspended in Texas on Tuesday, as it became the latest US state to abandon the procedure citing the spread of coronavirus.

In an attempt to preserve hospital capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic, officials in Texas and Ohio have announced that all surgical procedures deemed not “medically necessary” would be delayed.

The decision - which state health officials hope will conserve supplies of medical resources and protective equipment for hospital staff - has been criticised by campaigners as exploiting the outbreak to push through anti-abortion policies.

On Monday, the office of the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, confirmed that "No one is exempt from the governor's executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers,"

He added: "Those who violate the governor's order will be met with the full force of the law."

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Sunday that he had signed an executive order to expand hospital bed capacity as the state responds to the coronavirus. It was not immediately clear what was covered under the term of medical necessity.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, the president of a healthcare company offering abortions at three locations in Texas, told CBS on Monday that the procedure was “essential healthcare”.

Ms Miller added: "Patients cannot wait until this pandemic is over to receive safe abortion care."

In Ohio, the Attorney General Dave Yost announced all non-essential medical procedures would pause on Friday.

In a letter shared with CBS News, the attorney general’s office had written to two healthcare providers ordering them to stop providing services, such as abortion, that required the use of personal protective equipment.

In a statement, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio - one of the providers contacted by Mr Yost - said that they were complying with the Ohio Department of Health’s order and continuing to operate.

They said that “other steps to reduce the use of equipment in short supply" would be taken.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas has not publicly commented on the order in place in the state.