A prominent pro-family group based in Mississippi is urging the state's governor to bring a halt to abortions in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state has called for all "elective medical procedures and non-essential medical visits" to be postponed.

According to a statewide health alert issued on March 19 by State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs:

"The following measures must be taken: Physicians, hospitals and medical centers must defer elective surgical and diagnostic procedures until COVID-19 spread has been diminished and the supply of protective medical equipment is restored …. [Also] Dentists must delay non-emergency or routine dental procedures."

Walker Wildmon, vice president of operations for American Family Association, tells OneNewsNow that the order is pretty simple to understand.

Wildmon

"Any business that doesn't have to do with groceries, pharmacies, and hospitals and a few others are being closed, including dentists' offices," he reiterates. "They're being closed across the state of Mississippi to save Personal Protective Equipment."

PPE includes supplies like surgical masks, gloves, and gowns – and the statewide directive redirects those supplies to healthcare workers during the coronavirus crisis.

But AFA is bringing to the attention of its supporters – and pro-life supporters in general – the fact that at least one type of elective surgery continues unabated in the Magnolia State.

"The governor's office hasn't taken any official action to close down the one abortion clinic in the state, in Jackson," Wildmon notes, "despite the fact that other non-essential and what is called an elective procedure, all other places virtually have been shut down. We need Governor Tate Reeves to step up to the plate and close the doors of this abortion facility."

When asked what directive the state had issued in relation to Jackson Women's Health (the abortion clinic) and what he would do to enforce Dobbs' directive, Republican Governor Tate Reeves (pictured above) replied: "[The abortion clinic] should be following the guidelines as offered by the state department of health, and if they are not, then I would be prepared to take additional action to make sure they do so."

In an Action Alert issued on Thursday, AFA urges Mississippians to contact Governor Reeves and Dr. Dobbs to follow the examples of executive orders issued by at least three other governors – those of Indiana, Ohio, and Texas.

"Considering this national emergency, it is the right thing for them to do at the present time," the Action Alert concludes.