DES MOINES, Iowa - A Johnson County judge has ordered that some abortions can continue during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak after Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered the procedures to stop.
A joint statement from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa, Planned Parenthood, and the Emma Goldman Clinic said the judge ordered an agreement between the parties that allows physicians to make case-by-case decisions on whether patients will receive abortions.
The statement says Planned Parenthood will also resume seeing patients for in-clinic procedures.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds originally said she had suspended surgical abortions in order to keep medical equipment available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of abortion providers, arguing that Kim Reynolds' move to limit "nonessential" surgeries, including abortions, violates the Iowa Constitution.
Wednesday, the judge approved an agreement between the state and the ACLU that allows some abortions to continue.
To reach the agreement, the ACLU withdrew its motion for an emergency injunction to temporarily block Reynolds' suspension of the abortions.
Reynolds office released a statement saying, "Governor Reynolds is pleased that her proclamation remains in full effect and that surgical abortions will not be exempted from this suspension of nonessential and elective surgeries."