CoronaCrime #66

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a terrible toll on lives, illness, and economic devastation and it is having diverse effects on violence and crime. Daily Prevention News publishes weekly a Corona Crime Issue dedicated to collect related news and information.

1. Spreading the Disease: Protest in Times of Pandemics
   This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 deniers on the spread of COVID-19 in Germany. In a first step, we establish a link between regional proxies of COVID-19 deniers and infection rates. We then estimate the causal impact of large anti-lockdown protests on the spread of COVID-19 using an event study framework. Employing novel data on bus stops of travel companies specialized in driving protesters to these gatherings, and exploiting the timing of two large-scale demonstrations in November 2020, we find sizable increases in infection rates in protesters' origin regions after these demonstrations. Individual-level evidence supports the main results by documenting that COVID-19 deniers engage less in health protection behavior. Our results contribute to the debate about the public health costs of individual behavior that has detrimental externalities for the society. Source: ZEW Mannheim
2. Declines in methamphetamine supply and demand in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic
   This study uses data from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the methamphetamine market in Australia. Since the pandemic began, the availability and quality of methamphetamine have decreased, prices have increased (from $17.50–$50 per point to $50–$250 per point) and consumption has declined. The impact of the pandemic varied by location, with more disruption observed in Perth relative to Brisbane and Adelaide. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have restricted the supply of methamphetamine in Australia, resulting in higher prices and lower consumption of the drug. Source: Australian Institute of Criminology 
3. Research shows racism during COVID is rarely reported
   It’s not “new” news that Asian Australians are experiencing high rates of racism during the pandemic. However, existing data under-represent the true extent of COVID-related racism. The vast majority of cases aren’t being formally reported and official reporting processes aren’t capturing or addressing the impact of racism on Asian Australians. Recent national survey of 2,003 Asian Australians examined the nature, type and frequency of racist incidents they experience. Source: The Conversation
4. Relaxation of will-making rules during COVID may open elderly to abuse
   The writing of wills has drastically changed during the pandemic, with lockdown and other restrictions rendering the traditional rule of all parties signing off in person difficult, if not impossible. Source: The Age

Please find more information and news about the interlinkages between the Coronavirus, Crime and Violence in German published every Tuesday on our German News Service Tägliche Präventions News.