The impact of Covid-19 on Domestic Violence and the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Community
Abstract
The Coronavirus disease, also known as Covid-19, which is purported to
have started in Wuhan, China, was declared a pandemic on 11th March
2020. In the UK, the government, together with the National Health
Service (NHS), have taken various approaches to prevent and slow down
the spread of coronavirus. These included imposing a ‘lockdown’ of
the country (e.g. closure of schools, businesses, parks, leisure centres,
and tourist attractions), along with the emphasis on handwashing,
social distancing, the use of face masks and only permitting essential
travel within the UK and between the UK and other countries. These
approaches have been undertaken to varying extents and within different
timeframes across the four nations of the UK. Like many other countries
worldwide, the UK was not prepared for such a pandemic which resulted
in the inability to assess the most appropriate approach to contain the
spread. For example, the availability of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) for frontline workers, particularly those in health care. As the crisis
continues several striking social issues have emerged which may, in part,
be a consequence of the measures taken. These include the escalation in
domestic violence (DV) and disproportionate burden of disease among
the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community. The impact of
Covid-19 may persist in the longer time if appropriate measures are not
put in place to address the health inequalities in time
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