Appeals court: Tennessee must continue allowing abortions

NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that Tennessee must continue allowing abortions amid a temporary ban on nonessential medical procedures during the COVID-19outbreak.

The ruling follows a U.S. District judge’s order last week that abortions could proceed during the pandemic.

The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati, issued its opinion Friday. The justices wrote that courts must give governments flexibility to respond to a crisis.

“Affording flexibility, however, is not the same as abdicating responsibility, especially when well-established constitutional rights are at stake, as the right to an abortion most assuredly is,” the court wrote in the 33-page opinion.

Tennessee’s attorney general had argued that abortions are not being singled out but treated like any other procedure that is not necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury. Gov. Bill Lee issued an emergency order April 8 banning nonessential procedures for three weeks.

Alex Rieger, representing the Tennessee attorney general’s office, argued in court last week that the ban was to preserve the limited supply of protective equipment for doctors fighting COVID-19 and to help prevent the community spread of the disease.

Several other states are grappling with similar issues. Judges in the past week have ruled to allow abortions to continue in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Texas.

Shelby County Health Department COVID-19 Daily Update: April 25, 2020

Shelby County currently has 2038 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The total number of deaths in Shelby County attributed to COVID-19 is 44.

Memphis Health Center gets grant funding

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) on Friday announced that Memphis Health Center Inc. will receive a $3,758,920 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. 

“Memphis Health Center and other community health centers are on the front lines as the coronavirus pandemic spreads through our region,” Cohen said in a released statement. “This funding is especially important and timely as we see growing evidence of the virus disproportionately affecting African Americans and those with underlying health risks.

“Memphis Health Center is providing access to testing and care for those affected by the virus and continues to support our underserved communities.”

Maxine Waters says her sister near death with COVID-19

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “I’m going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister, who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri right now, infected by the coronavirus,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) announced as she voted on a new coronavirus small business package. READ more

Today’s TSD music vibe:

Playing golf with a pandemic handicap

The African American Golfers Digest notes that “many medical experts” consider golf one of the safest activities to participate in during the COVID-19 pandemic, as long as you take proper precautions.  READ more