Texas was one of the few states that declared abortion a non-essential procedure amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As the rest of the United States fight to recover from the coronavirus threat, officials in Texas fought hard in the state's courts to refused women access to abortions. 

The court hearing was a war between the state and various women's health groups who claim the state's assertion that abortions were non-essential during the lockdown are damaging to females. 

Texas won the hearing. Abortions-which sees over 50,000 annually in the state alone-were effectively banned. The recent decision to lift restrictions, however, has allowed doctors to resume the "elective" medical procedure.     

Waitlists

While the procedure was allowed again, multiple clinics across the state have reported a long waitlist. Others were closed for an indefinite amount of time-some refused to reveal whether or not they would offer the services again. 

Many doctors refused to perform the procedure, claiming it was only available to save the life of the mother or the child. Louise, who was pregnant with one dead baby and another destined to die at birth, was refused access to the service.

Most U.S. states introduced restrictions on non-essential medical procedures in an effort to preserve the supply of medical equipment. Despite the time-sensitive nature of the procedure, Texas decided abortion was non-essential.

'It Was a Choice'

The decision drew a lot of anger from human rights groups. Abortion providers also took legal action. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remained defiant amid the backlash. He claimed abortion was "elective," mainly because "proponents have always claimed it was a choice."

He said rights groups' very own definition and narrative classified the procedure as non-essential and extremely reliant on a woman's right to choose, therefore justifying his decision to include it in the ban. 

"They can move to other states," Paxton said. "There's nothing preventing them from doing that."

Many have decided to make the grueling 13-hour drive to New Mexico to receive the services they need. This meant using up their savings as their health insurance would not cover the procedure. 

Reproductive health clinics in Albuquerque are seeing quadruple of their usual number of patients. Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada have also reported an influx of patients seeking to avail of the procedure in local Planned Parenthood clinics during the coronavirus lockdown. 

According to data, clinics in other southwest states saw a 706 percent increase of patients who lived in Texas between March 23 and April 14.

Abortion, when delayed, can cause increased complications and inaccessibility of the service. Health care centers offering the procedure are often targeted by smear campaigns, threats, and demonstrators. They also find themselves caught in politicized attempts to close the establishments. 

Dr. Epsey, a medical professional who performs abortion procedures, believes anti-abortion activists are willing to utilize any situation to justify elimination access to the service. She said she was surprised the COVID-19 situation was taken advantage of for political purposes. 

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