Texas law causes abortions to drop by 60% as people seek care in other states

State data showed procedures went from 5,400 to 2,200 in the month after the near-total ban was enacted in September

Abortions performed by registered providers in Texas fell by 60% in the first month after the state passed the most restrictive abortion law in the US in decades, according to new figures.

Nearly 2,200 abortions were reported by Texas providers in September after a new law took effect that bans the procedure once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy and when many do not know they are pregnant. The law is without exception in cases of rape or incest.