The COVID-19 epidemic has been on an uprise in the United States for the past month. We are told to social distance, wash our hands, don't touch our face, and wear masks if at all possible. Recreational centers, many restaurants, schools, and much other community like building have been closed for the remainder of the stay at home order. Although, quarantining has had its benefits and it is something as a society that needs to happen. We have much bigger problems we are facing due to the COVID-19 and being quarantined.

Police, physiologists, social workers, and many more professions in the human service field have noticed an increase in domestic violence after the stay at home orders have been announced, along with many other increases in child abuse, alcoholism, and suicides. This is due to many social factors. Many families that have already experienced domestic violence have had more severe cases come up. The number of domestic and child abuse cases has overwhelmed police officers and many other human service professionals areas. Sergent Brian DiFranco who works at the Burlington Police Department in Vermont stated: "that there has been an increase in domestic violence calls and they have been going from call to call." A retired chief located in Springfield Missouri named Thomas R. Johnson recently stated, "Domestic violence has gone up and police officers don't have time to do checkpoints because they are overrun by the number of domestic violence cases."

Sergent Brian DiFranco of the Burlington Vermont Police Department also noted that between March 15th to April 15th of 2019 there were 2,293 calls with 45 of these calls being domestic violence-related calls. This year between the months of March 15th and April 15th there were only 1,811 calls with 61 of these calls being domestic violence-related calls. This shows that there is a decrease in calls for the police during quarantine compared to last year, but an increase in domestic violence calls during the quarantine months.

It is important to quarantine and keeps each other safe and healthy, but we also need to look at the negative effects the quarantine has on many people's lives. This month is Child Abuse Prevention month and we need to keep in mind this. I found some articles that can help with ways to prevent domestic violence here. If you are experiencing domestic violence please click on this link here for a domestic violence hotline for help and support.

Resources:

Burlington Police

Springfield Police