Arkansas State Capitol Photo Credit: Mike Rastiello / Flickr |
Their lawsuit states: “Delaying abortion care across the board for a COVID-19 test is especially unwarranted in view of Arkansas’s otherwise permissive approach to letting individuals mix and mingle in restaurants and gyms without negative COVID tests. For women who cannot obtain access to COVID-19 NAAT testing within 48-hours of their procedures, the Directive entirely bars them from exercising their constitutional right to receive pre-viability abortion care in Arkansas.”
The Arkansas policy is not a simple case of the governor singling out abortion businesses, however. The policy affects all providers of elective surgeries, including dental procedures. It was put in place because social distancing is not possible during surgical procedures such as abortion. Furthermore, businesses like restaurants and gyms do not use the supply of personal protective equipment needed by physicians treating patients with COVID-19, while elective surgery providers (including abortionists) do.
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