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COVID-19: Pandemic’s Impact on Domestic Violence is Difficult to Discern

The shutdown and social distancing are preventing accurate tracing of domestic abuse cases in Philadelphia, but service providers continue to reach out to survivors.

Since early March, Philadelphians have had to adapt to social-distancing, self-isolation, and working from home. While staying indoors may help protect citizens from COVID-19, it also leaves victims of domestic abuse even more vulnerable and invisible, especially if they live with their abusers and are forced to face them around the clock.

In 2018, 27 deaths were linked to domestic violence in Philadelphia County. Additionally, the Philadelphia Police Department receives on average 100,000 calls pertaining to domestic abuse each year. Although these numbers are troubling enough on their own, hundreds of thousands of cases go unreported each year in the U.S.

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