The number of reported cases of child abuse have declined during the pandemic, which worries authorities. Many feel
the decline is because children are not in schools and other facilities where people are trained to spot abuse and
mandated to report it. The pandemic has also been a stressful time, which can lead to abuse. “When we see
increased stress, we see increased abuse, whether it’s to a partner or to a child,” said UTMB’s
Jeff Temple.