Experts have seen a surge of nearly 15 times the number of cases of abuse of children at home, compared with the same period in three previous years. A study found a rise in babies with head injuries suspected to be caused by abuse at specialist children's hospital during the pandemic. During the same period over the previous three years (March 23 - April 23), the London hospital saw an average of 0.67 cases a month. They warn that the medical community must remain alert to "a more silent pandemic" of domestic child abuse while the coronavirus outbreak continues. Dr Alison Steele, officer for child protection at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "This is an extremely concerning report.

Source: Daily Mirror July 02, 2020 22:28 UTC