“My husband won’t let me leave the house. He’s had flu-like symptoms and blames keeping me here on not wanting to infect others or bringing something like COVID-19 home. But I feel like it’s just an attempt to isolate me.“
Her abuser has threatened to throw her out onto the street if she starts coughing. She fears that if she leaves the house, her husband will lock her out.
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Victims of abuse find themselves held hostage in their own homes, with no possible way of escape. Mandatory lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders have trapped them in their homes with their abusers, isolating them from the people and resources they need.
Complying with the social distancing guidelines is necessary to stave off the spread of this virus, but it has provided an opportunity for abusers to isolate their victims, creating an environment saturated with violence.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has reported that a growing number of callers say that their abusers are using COVID-19 as a means of further isolating them from their friends and family.
The current crisis also makes it more difficult for victims to seek help. As medical facilities around the world scramble to respond to the coronavirus, health systems are becoming overloaded, making it more difficult for victims to get access to medical care or therapists.
For many women, even the fear of contracting the coronavirus is stopping them from seeking out medical care after experiencing physical abuse. And there are some abusers withholding financial resources keeping these women unable to seek medical assistance.
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Abuse is about power and control. An abuser can use any tool to exert control over their victim, and may take advantage of an already stressful situation to gain more control.
**Here’s how COVID-19 could uniquely impact intimate partner violence survivors:
ABUSERS:
may withhold necessary items, such as hand sanitizer or disinfectants.
may share misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten survivors, or to prevent them from seeking appropriate medical attention if they have symptoms.
may withhold insurance cards, threaten to cancel insurance, or prevent survivors from seeking medical attention if they need it.
may feel more justified and escalate their isolation tactics.
SURVIVORS:
may fear entering shelter because of being in close quarters with groups of people.
(who are older or have chronic heart or lung conditions) may be at increased risk in public places where they would typically get support, like shelters, counseling centers, or courthouses.
Programs that serve survivors may be significantly impacted –- shelters may be full or may even stop intakes altogether.
Travel restrictions may impact a survivor’s escape or safety plan – it may not be safe for them to use public transportation or to fly.
While the number of abuse cases may not rise during the coronavirus crisis, people who were already in an abusive situation will likely find themselves facing more extreme violence, and can no longer escape by going to work, or seeking safety with family or friends.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline via text or call at 1-800-799-7233.
**For information about the affects of COVID-19 on victims of abuse, visit The National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/2020/03/13/staying-safe-during-covid-19/
