AUSTIN, Texas - A federal judge has blocked the state's emergency ban on abortions during the coronavirus outbreak.
This comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a statement warning all licensed health care professionals and facilities to postpone all surgeries and procedures not immediately medically necessary in response to COVID-19.
The release from Paxton specifically names abortion providers. Paxton's office argued that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for hospital beds and created a shortage of personal protective equipment for health care professions.
Planned Parenthood joined other abortion providers in suing Texas over the move. The lawsuit disputed Paxton's view, saying that the “COVID-19 pandemic and its