Report: Child Abuse Deaths In Pennsylvania Spiked During Pandemic

Child abuse deaths in Pennsylvania skyrocketed during the pandemic, according to a new report, which is driving calls for more reforms to the state’s troubled child welfare system.

The report, released by state Department of Human Services last week, found child abuse deaths increased by 43 percent from 2019 to 2020, with at least 73 children dying and 115 children nearly dying as a result of abuse.

A majority of the children died from “a violent act” but many others died or nearly died from ingesting prescription drugs or illegal narcotics, according to the report.

Last year, 43 chil...