Abortion services appear to have resumed in Texas after Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) issued an order last week that took effect Wednesday allowing elective procedures to resume amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The news comes after Abbot issued an executive order late last month that banned abortions as part of a general halt to all elective medical procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Abortion providers who challenged the ban in court said they now meet the criteria Abbott laid out in the new order, and the state did not dispute that claim in its filing Wednesday, The Texas Tribute reports. 

ADVERTISEMENT

When asked last week if abortions could proceed under the latest order, Abbott said it was a decision for the courts, according to the Tribune. 

Whole Woman’s Health facilities in Fort Worth, Austin and McAllen, Texas were all open Wednesday, according to the news outlet. 

Abbott also said last week the state plans to begin reopening different Texas businesses through a series of executive orders. 

But despite the loosening of procedure restrictions, health care facilities continue to reserve a certain number of beds for COVID-19 patients as a precaution.  

Texas reported Wednesday a total of 21,069 confirmed COVID-19 cases and total of 543 deaths to the disease.