Domestic abuse victims may be in an even more dangerous if they follow suggestions to work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Huffington Post reported.
“Perpetrators of domestic violence commonly try to isolate victims and cut off their relationships with coworkers or friends or family,” Allison Randall of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “Not being able to go to work and connect with your colleagues, it can certainly increase your vulnerability.”
In China, activists have reported a surge in domestic violence as millions of people have been under quarantine.
“During a time of extreme lockdown with the coronavirus, when people are not allowed to move around, it makes it exponentially more difficult for a victim of domestic violence in the home to go somewhere else,” Leta Hong Fincher, author of “Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China,” told the news outlet.
Randall said she was especially concerned about the financial implications of the outbreak for domestic violence victims if they are laid off during the outbreak.
“Coronavirus can lead to folks being trapped in abusive relationships,” Randall said, “not because of the virus itself but because of its economic impacts.”
HuffPost noted research shows domestic violence instances go up after natural disasters.
“Somebody who is not abusive is not going to suddenly become abusive,” Randall told the news outlet.
“But I worry about an increased incidence of domestic violence as people are stressed, and there’s less community support and accountability.”
Ruth Glenn, the president of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said she’s worried victims will avoid domestic violence shelters fearing crowding will also make them vulnerable to infection.
“I would tell anyone that is considering whether they need to go to shelter that they should feel like it is safe,” she told the news outlet.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.