The state’s leading anti-abortion rights group slammed Gov. Phil Murphy over a carveout in an executive order barring elective medical and dental procedures that allows providers to continue providing abortions.

“Governor Murphy’s Executive Order exempting abortion during this global pandemic defies logic and is highly irresponsible,” NJ Right to Life Executive Director Marie Tasy said. “97% of all abortions are elective procedures and are not medically necessary.”

The executive order was signed to free up resources for a health care system already strained by COVID-19.

There are 2,844 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 27 deaths related to the virus in the state.

“Both our state and nation are rightfully lamenting and tracking the daily loss of human lives from COVID-19 and taking extraordinary measures to flatten the curve,” Tasy said. “Vital medical supplies and precious resources which already are in short supply need to be preserved for our hospitals and health care workers to be able to fight against COVID-19.”

The ban on elective procedures goes into effect at 5 p.m. on March 27.

Murphy’s order defines elective procedures as ones that are not time-sensitive and would not endanger the health of a patient if they were postponed.

Federal law prohibits abortions certain abortion procedures during the second trimester of pregnancy.

“We call on Governor Murphy to reverse this action immediately so that valuable resources can instead be utilized for urgent health care needs that will actually help save human lives and mitigate human suffering,” Tasy said.