Anti-abortion lobby groups could exploit the coronavirus outbreak to attempt to block women from getting pregnancies terminated in the US, campaigners warned.

Abortion clinics in Ohio have been ordered to stop carrying out “nonessential” abortions and surgeries by the state's Attorney General’s office in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The order, issued by Ohio’s department of health director, was made to preserve personal protective equipment for health care providers fighting the coronavirus crisis.

Non-essential surgery is defined as “any procedure that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient” in the order.

The order reads: “If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the [health director’s] order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures”.

But a number of clinics in Ohio have said they plan to carry on offering their usual healthcare options - which comprise abortions - to patients.

Jennifer Branch, a lawyer who has represented abortion providers in Ohio for 20 years, told The Independent anti-abortion activists are attempting to manipulate the coronavirus pandemic to push their anti-abortion agenda.

Ms Branch, who practices civil rights litigation, added: “They are trying to stir up politics. They are misunderstanding the government’s order and thinking it is about stopping abortion rather than being about preserving protective equipment.

“The abortion providers in Ohio are continuing to provide abortions but at the same time complying with the order to preserve personal protective equipment. Trainees and volunteers who are not necessary for the procedure are being kicked out of the room so they do not have to wear protective gear and they are reminding patients they can have medical abortions i.e. take pills.

“The state of Ohio has been trying to ban abortion in many different ways for years. In the past year, they have passed four new abortion bans. There are four suits pending against the state of Ohio."

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NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, a non-profit organisation which supports legal abortion, said abortions are a “time-sensitive medical situation that cannot be significantly delayed without profound consequences.”

“Ohioans are continuing to rely on their trusted community abortion providers during this crisis, and Ohio’s elected officials should not stand between patients and their doctors,” the organisation said. “Abortion is an essential health service. Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Right to Life president and State Medical Board member Mike Gonidakis should not be exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to further their agenda to close Ohio’s abortion clinics.”

Planned Parenthood said their biggest priority is making sure every person can continue accessing essential health care, including abortion.

“We know your health care can’t wait,” Iris E Harvey and Kersha Deibel, presidents of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, said in a statement. “As Ohioans do their part to keep each other healthy during this COVID-19 pandemic, Planned Parenthood is committed to working with public health leaders to serve the community. Every healthcare provider has a role to play, and we are doing our part to conserve needed resources and to protect the health and safety of our patients and staff. Together, we will meet this challenge, no matter what.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society of Family Planning and other official medical organisations added: “To the extent that hospital systems or ambulatory surgical facilities are categorising procedures that can be delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion should not be categorised as such a procedure.

“Abortion is an essential component of comprehensive health care. It is also a time-sensitive service for which a delay of several weeks, or in some cases days, may increase the risks or potentially make it completely inaccessible. The consequences of being unable to obtain an abortion profoundly impact a person’s life, health, and well-being. Community-based and hospital-based clinicians should consider collaboration to ensure abortion access is not compromised during this time.”