Anti-abortion activists have started a petition asking Gov. Brian Kemp to halt the procedure while the state seeks to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Georgia Right To Life launched an online petition urging supporters to call Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr and asking them to halt abortion services.
Governors in states including Ohio, Texas and Mississippi have banned elective medical procedures, ruling abortions as elective. Kemp has not placed a ban on elective procedures.
But the Georgia Right to Life Executive Director Zemmie Fleck points out that Kemp has urged medical providers to limit elective procedures and conserve medical supplies for those battling Covid-19.
“Yet, abortion facilities across Georgia continue to operate, threatening the public welfare by consuming precious medical resources needed to treat vulnerable coronavirus victims,” Georgia Right to Life said in the petition.
Fleck, who said she plans to deliver a petition with at least 2,500 signatures to Kemp next week, also said she believes abortion facilities have increased the amount of patients being seen.
“We are asking the abortion facilities to adhere to some of the same practices that we’ve seen in other medical areas where people have curtailed the procedures, for a time at least, to (support) the communities that are battling this pandemic,” she said.
Planned Parenthood Southeast President and CEO Staci Fox said she couldn’t confirm there was an increase in abortions occurring in recent weeks, but said the procedures are time sensitive. Under current Georgia law, abortions are allowed through 20 weeks of pregnancy, or about 22 weeks of gestation.
“Reproductive healthcare doesn’t stop,” Fox said. “These needs don’t stop during these times. But, more importantly, safe and legal abortion is not an elective procedure.”
Kwajelyn Jackson, executive director of abortion clinic Feminist Women’s Health Center, said the facility is following social distancing guidelines, questioning patients about any potential symptoms and screening them — including taking temperatures — upon arrival. At least one person has been turned away for having symptoms that align with coronavirus.
“There’s no period of time where people are gathered in the space without having that social distance unless it’s the provider or other medical staff,” Jackson said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep our patients safe, and our staff safe, while still providing care.”
