Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care: Vol 19 No.2

As I write this editorial in the midst of a global pandemic, it feels unreal to think
how different the world was when I was writing the introduction to our February
issue. All our lives have been changed utterly by COVID-19. While the virus itself
appears generally to cause only mild symptoms in children, despite emerging
evidence that some infected children can become seriously ill, the wider effects
of COVID-19 on children and young people are likely to be tragically significant.
The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, has described the health crisis caused by
COVID-19 as 'quickly becoming a child rights crisis' (UN, 2020). The problem is
particularly acute in low and middle-income countries where financial and
infrastructural pressures could have devastating effects on routine health
provision, leading to vast numbers of deaths of young children in the absence of
concerted efforts by the wealthiest countries. UNICEF also highlights potential
impact on access to immunisations and the negative consequences of
restrictions on normal living for mental health, education and child protection.
Women and girls are likely to be particularly at increased risk of gender-based
violence.