How Pandemic Panic Affected Abortions

When COVID-19 hit, none of us knew what was coming next. We didn’t know that there would be stay-at-home orders or that our academic semesters would be cut short. We didn’t know cases in the United States would reach into the millions or that the death toll would rise astronomically. But what we really didn’t know was that our right to reproductive healthcare would suddenly be in jeopardy.

Women’s reproductive healthcare has always been an uphill battle, yet now there is a boulder barreling down towards us.

Before COVID-19, it seemed that hardly anyone wanted to talk about the gynecologist, STIs or abortions; it was considered too personal or inappropriate. Abortions have long been considered taboo and still are, in a sense, in spite of continuous efforts to normalize the topic. The morality of abortions has been increasingly questioned in recent years. When a global pandemic entered the picture, healthcare became a hot topic, but reproductive rights didn’t hold much weight in the conversation, as the focus was, obviously, on coronavirus. Various state governments saw the pandemic as an opportunity to undermine abortion laws through executive orders pertaining to the pandemic. When the pandemic was declared, multiple states swiftly banned and blocked abortions, deeming them “non-essential.” The states’ actions not only put women in danger but also stripped us of our right to choose.

While obtaining an abortion is not something that directly impacts me right now, it’s still extremely important to me. I’ve grown up watching reproductive health becoming more accessible to women thanks to the Affordable Care Act, but abortions being taken away so easily is frightening and I worried for my right to choose. The world of reproductive health is vast and while I might not fully understand it all, I know there are many women who are facing life-changing decisions.

Eleven different states—Alaska, Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia—banned abortions in some shape or form during the beginning of the pandemic. States threatened punishments for those who went against the orders to ensure clinics would comply with the bans. For example, in Texas, those who didn’t abide by the executive order could face penalties of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time.

This crisis unfolded over two months. Planned Parenthood followed the abortion bans closely, updating with new bans, lawsuits and the blocking of bans on a state by state basis. This timeline was how I stayed so involved with the unraveling of events.

Timeline (Planned Parenthood):

March 11: Pandemic declared.

March 18: Elective abortion procedures are suspended.

March 23: First pandemic-era abortion ban in Texas occurs as the state deems them “non-essential.”

March 26: Ohio prohibits abortions.

March 27: Iowa, Alabama, Oklahoma target abortion access.

March 30: The fight against bans begins.

April 1: Iowa abortion access resumes.

April 6: Some abortion services resume in Oklahoma.

April 8: Tennessee bans procedural abortions.

April 13: Lawsuits are filed to protect abortion access in Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.

April 17: Tennessee can resume procedural abortions.

April 22: Abortion ban in Texas ends.

April 23: Ohio ban on abortions stays blocked.

April 24: Women’s Health Center of West Virginia files lawsuit to protect abortions; Tennessee ban remains blocked.

Right Now: The pandemic-era abortion bans in states where lawsuits were filed — Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia — are not in effect. The bans in Alaska and Mississippi where lawsuits were not filed are also no longer in effect.

In a time of vulnerability, states used national panic as a cover to fight against abortions and put women in a dangerous position. With abortions banned in these states, women traveled multiple hours and, in some cases, days to find clinics to get an abortion. Women crossed state lines and faced dozens of roadblocks trying to obtain the abortions they both had a right to and needed.

Just because a state bans abortions doesn’t mean abortions aren’t going to occur. Instead, states are taking away access to safe abortions.

As a 20-year-old woman from Texas, reproductive health is a subject in which I am only beginning to scrape the surface. I’m just starting to understand the world of STI testing, mammograms, pap smears, birth control, and advocating for my right to choose. Texas was one of the states that went back and forth multiple times on whether abortions could be performed during the pandemic. At one point in April, our rights were changing daily. Back and forth, I watched my rights swing like a pendulum. Much like the rest of the country, I was in a constant state of panic. My mind was continually swimming with “What Ifs” until my anxiety was finally subdued at the end of April. While I can take a deep breath right now, I know this isn’t the end of the fight.

Abortion bans associated with the pandemic have been lifted, though the relief may be temporary. We need to prepare for what happens next. COVID-19 will continue into the winter, and there is a high possibility abortions will be deemed “non-essential” and banned yet again. This is just the beginning of this crisis and it’s not something we can assume is over. Even if getting an abortion is not an immediate need for you, our right to choose is. This fight isn’t just for me or you: it’s for our children and for all women, and that’s a fight we need to get on board with.

Even though the current bans have been lifted, we can’t let ourselves forget about the fight for legal abortions. Even after the pandemic ends, some states are still going to try and put an end to legal abortions. We cannot let that happen. As women and as advocates there are many ways you can show your support and use your voice to help foster change. In addition to donating and posting on social media, you can sign petitions and let your voice be heard.

Petitions to sign:

Planned Parenthood