Bullinger LR, Boy A, Messner S, et al. - Physicians should be aware that patients who appear with injuries during a pandemic may be victims of neglect because of changes in social dynamics in their households. Maltreatment presenting to the emergency department (ED) in particular shifted toward treating injuries and abuse caused by poor supervision. When determining appropriate public health responses in the midst of a pandemic, policymakers should examine the effects of stay-at-home orders on child well-being.

• From January to June 2018–2020, the authors conducted a retrospective chart review on medical records of ED visits from a level I pediatric hospital system serving one of the largest metropolitan areas in the southeastern United States.

• Although the overall number of pediatric ED visits and child abuse and neglect (CAN)-related ED visits both decreased, the number of CAN-related ED visits due to neglect from insufficient adult supervision increased by 62%.

• In addition, the number of CAN visits per 1,000 paediatric ED visits increased by 97 %.

• Finally, the proportion of CAN-related ED visits due to neglect from insufficient supervision rose by 100 %.