The coronavirus crisis has a potentially long-term negative impact on children around the world. The impact is likely to be devastating, even though children who contract COVID-19 appear to have less severe symptoms and lower mortality rates than other age groups, Human Rights Watch said in a report released October 29th. The topic of child abuse during these times is both catastrophic and often fatal. Put yourself in the shoes of these children, who have to stay home with an abusive parent. Imagine being left at home with your biggest fears, your parents. This situation that many kids experience is heartbreaking, especially when the global pandemic struck the USA. 

   Someone’s childhood shouldn’t hurt, but the harsh reality is millions of children in America experience devastating childhoods, with long-term debilitating effects, and for many American kids, their childhood not only hurts but is often fatal. Studies have found that “…between March 23 and April 23, 2020—the first month of self-isolation in the United Kingdom—20 children were treated for suspected abusive head trauma at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London” (Smith). The injuries included brain bleeding and skull fractures. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, children all over the world have had to face a major lockdown leaving millions of children and families home all day. School and afterschool activities are a lifeline and almost essential for children to escape terrible conditions, circumstances, and abuse they face at home. 

   I believe that as a result of the pandemic that this would leave children more vulnerable with minimal protective barriers. If the coronavirus wasn’t a thing, kids would have an outlet to go to when they needed it. For example, school, friend’s house, and activities. In my opinion, this is an important topic that needs to be identified, addressed, and stopped. 

   As the pandemic continues to overtake America, dozens of headlines are suggesting that social distancing and lockdowns could be causing a surge in child abuse. In fact, America has had a mass job loss since the pandemic hit at a rate as high as the Great Depression, only intensifying the strains on families at risk of abusing or neglecting their children. Due to the fact that children and adolescents are not in school, it is difficult for teachers and faculty to report and notice that child abuse is happening online. Meaning that we can speculate that cases are happening without the knowledge of teachers or faculty. To conclude, the choices governments make now are crucial for the benefits of children over the long term.

Sources:

Roose, K. (2020, September 17). Child mortality and Covid-19. Retrieved October 20, 2020, from https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/covid-19/

Smith, S. (2020). Surge in Child Abuse, Harm During COVID-19 Pandemic Reported. Retrieved 2020, from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2769482#:~:text=Surge%20in%20Child%20Abuse%2C%20Harm%20During%20COVID%2D19%20Pandemic%20Reported,-Bridget%20M.&text=The%20injuries%20included%20brain%20bleeding,infection%20with%20the%20novel%20coronavirus.