Covid has strained couples, families
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Two people wearing masks on their faces cry out for an Argentine Covid-19 victim.
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The Covid-19 pandemicHumankind has suffered a huge emotional loss. People around the globe are dealing with tragic losses and the increased pressures of living at home.
Although many families were able to spend more time together in the aftermath of the pandemic there have been some unhappy relationships.
From arguments over Covid rules and restrictions to disagreements over whether children should be vaccinated — and even disputes between families and friends over the very existence of the virus — have seen relationships pushed to breaking point during the pandemic, according to family law experts and psychologists.
The pandemic has seen marital conflict rise. The number of people seeking divorce has increased since the pandemic. “I get between three and four inquiries per day for my services, where before Covid there were much fewer inquiries,” Lisa Beth Older from New York City said to CNBC.
The increase in divorce inquires could be attributed to the fact that couples are able to work remotely and share more time together. However, it is harder to see marital problems and underlying conflicts.
Older however, who is a New York matrimonial lawyer for more than 30 years, noted that most of her recent disagreements have been about Covid with children as a focal point.
She said that the most frequent conflict she sees is when custodial parents hold different views on Covid and its effects on their children.
“[For example,]In a custody or divorce dispute, anti-vaccination spouses don’t believe Covid exists. If they disagree, then the child should not be allowed on planes or to use public transportation. She stated that the vaccinated spouse would prefer for her child to not travel and avoid unnecessary exposure to risk.
As the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spreads in Buenos Aires (Argentina), a couple wearing protective masks walks on a street.
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Older explained that common issues arise when it comes to whether children should go to public or private school. “Another argument is whether they will get vaccinated,” but she also noted that mandates in New York for vaccines have led to some parents becoming more open to vaccine resistance.
She said that most parents had given in to the pressure and let their children be vaccinated. Some were reluctantly.
It’s well-known that the divorce rate has increased during the pandemic — the U.K.’s largest family law firm reported a 95% increase in divorce inquiries during the pandemic (with women driving the surge in interest). While in the U.S., Legal Templates, which sells legal forms written by licensed attorneys, reported a 34% increase in sales of its divorce agreement in the first half of 2020 (when lockdown kicked in), compared to the same time period in 2019.
However, the reality of divorcing might not be as simple as it seems. with one study suggesting that both marriages and divorces actually fell across five U.S. states in 2020.
Wrangling over children
In a relationship breakup, children can be a source of tension and anxiety. Sometimes it is difficult to stay with someone you love after a relationship ends. Covid, however, has made parenting more difficult for some parents.
Ron Kauffman is a Board-certified family and marital attorney, who lives in Miami. He told CNBC that he also saw a rise in arguments between parents during the pandemic.
Kauffman stated, “Appropriate quagine, followed by mask mandates, or vaccinations” are three common areas of dispute. These disputes manifest as arguments over timesharing and visitation, i.e. He also said that the time spent by each parent with their children or grandchildren is a measure of how much they love them. Covid is a weapon to stop time sharing between parents who are separated or have already divorced.
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Kauffman said that Covid makes timesharing difficult for parents living in other states or countries, and that they are not allowed to visit their children after arriving. Kauffman also noted that Covid can be “weaponized” to some extent. Timesharing should not be denied by the ‘gatekeeping parent’ if they have been in court.
Covid denial
Public health actions as a consequence of the pandemic are split like many other important topics. People have varied in their responses to government guidelines. Some have followed all the instructions and directives on the virus exactly, while others ignore rules such as social gathering limits and mask mandates.
Millions have accepted Covid vaccines. which are proven to be effectiveHowever, not all people will do it willingly. There are significant portions of certain populations who still feel the need to be there. hesitancy, skepticism and refusal are common.
And while the majority of people accept the existence of Covid — a virus that’s origins are still unknown but has to date killed over 5.5 million people and caused over 342 million infections globally — recognizing the destruction and disruption it has caused around the world, a small but active minority deny that Covid is real and believe it to be a conspiracy.
U.K.-based Consultant Clinical Psychologist Alex Desatnik told CNBC that, aside from divorces, “fractures, difficulties, conflicts — high-level conflicts — and relational stress which we’re seeing in couples is phenomenally high.”
According to him, the increase in divorces in the aftermath of the pandemic was not due to differing world views among couples. He also noted that families and couples can hold different political opinions but still stay together. Covid has denied many individuals the opportunity to have social contact, which would have allowed them to share their opinions with family and friends. He also said that Covid was a barrier to people challenging each other’s views.
Desatnik claimed that “all of these outlets have been taken away.” You have to talk about it when you are in the middle of a lockdown and one person says it’s a hoax while the other believes it’s the greatest health challenge humanity’s ever faced.
According to family lawyers, “Covid Denial” in a family unit is one of most challenging relationship problems.
“I have had a client where the spouse has been a Covid denier and that obviously puts a real strain on the relationship,” Sara Barnes, a family law solicitor in the U.K. and director at EJ Coombs Solicitors, said, adding that the issue had led her client to seek advice about a possible divorce.
CNBC’s She said that “I believe that the vaccination of their children when they turn 18” will become a source of conflict.
Vaccine disputes
While Covid vaccines can reduce the severity of illness, hospitalizations, and deaths from the virus (although they may still be used as conduits), children are far more affected than adults by Covid. It has raised ethical questions about the necessity of vaccinating or increasing their vaccinations.
The World Health Organization has weighed up the clinical data and noted in NovemberChildren and adolescents are less likely to develop severe disease than adults. Unless they belong to an elite group that is at greater risk for serious Covid-19, then it’s not as urgent to immunize them. However, it stressed the benefits that vaccines for children and teens “go beyond direct health benefits.”
The report noted that vaccinations that reduce Covid transmission may decrease transmission between children and teenagers to older people and reduce the need for mitigation actions in schools.
The argument to vaccinate children is arguably more complex than that for adults. It’s not surprising then, that some parents are also stricken over the Covid vaccines.
A sign is held by a woman at the Huntington Beach Pier as activists rally against COVID-19 mandates for workers and schoolchildren that could be required by the State Legislature in the next year. The event took place amid the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), which occurred in Huntington Beach, California. It was January 3, 2022.
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Ron Kauffman claimed that he had seen cases where there was a dispute between parents who were pro and anti-vax. According to him, conflict resolution among parents is possible without needing the courts.
“I spoke to many parents about their opinions on Covid severity, mask use, and vaccinations. He said that these cases could be resolved amicably.
He said that parents can address their medical issues if they are honest with themselves. This is possible by adhering to the then-current government guidelines at the timesharing location.
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