Please note!

This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.

Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

FACT BRIEF

Has the pandemic made it more difficult to get abortions?

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

By Jiyul Kim

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YES

During state-imposed lockdowns, at least 11 states halted or scaled back abortion services, many deeming abortions a non-essential medical procedure. During the lockdown, women seeking abortion in a restricted state had to travel across state lines, but public transportation and flights were also limited during that time.

“No one is exempt from the governor’s executive order on medically unnecessary ... procedures, including abortion providers," said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. "Those who violate the governor’s order will be met with the full force of the law.”

The majority of restrictive states have since resumed procedures, gradually allowing clinics to re-open. In Arkansas, abortions remain suspended unless the patient can demonstrate that she has tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of the procedure.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

KFF: State action to limit abortion

Texas Attorney General: Halting abortion

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Gigafact

Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

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About fact briefs published on Gigafact

Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.