A domestic violence support agency said yesterday that demand had jumped since the island started mandatory quarantines in a bid to beat the coronavirus pandemic.Laurie Shiell, the executive director of the Centre Against Abuse, said the organisation had been asked to help government departments on a daily basis since the 14-day quarantines for travellers kicked in ten days ago.She added: “Unfortunately, this week has been a busy one. “We have assisted with obtaining three domestic violence protection orders in the courts and have more in process for next week. “Additionally, the Department of Child and Family Services, court services and the health department are a few government agencies that have called upon our expertise to assist with abuse situations that have come to them during this time.”Ms Shiell said that the Covid-19 outbreak had “triggered a new way of doing business for the world, and unfortunately it has increased isolation and potential for harm for many who are in abusive situations”.She explained: “Abuse survivors are now home-quarantined with their abusers, which can have the consequence of increased mental and physical abuse with limited resources available to assist.”Police in China, where the pandemic started, are reported to have recorded a three-fold increase in domestic violence in February compared with the same month last year.Ms Shiell highlighted that the hashtag #AntiDomestic ViolenceDuringEpidemic was trending on Chinese social media. She said: “Unfortunately, this behaviour normally is a heads-up warning to other countries who are being quarantined, or on lockdown, that we too will see an increase in abuse during our lockdown period.”Ms Shiell added: “Centre Against Abuse wants to let this segment of our population and the community at large know that they are not alone and that we are still here for them.“CAA is open and available to provide assistance in the form of counselling tele-appointments and in-office appointments, along with obtaining domestic violence protection orders. “As normal, for all emergencies, please always call 911 first.”She explained that domestic abuse survivors can usually find “free time away from the house” through work and other activities, where they could talk to a friend or seek help through an agency.However, Ms Shiell added: “These options under government-imposed quarantine are more difficult to access.”The CAA said members of the public could help by reporting domestic violence incidents to the police and asking officers to attend.The centre also appealed for vacation rental owners to donate rooms or reduce rates so that people can avoid violence in the home, and asked for donations to help make sure domestic abuse victims and their children found a refuge.The organisation added: “We ask that the entire community come together to support those who are most vulnerable and in need.”Police said they had recorded 17 “domestic incidents” in the past ten days.Detective Chief Inspector Arthur Glasford said: “These domestic incidents have consisted of family or relationship dispute at an address, for example a brother and sister arguing and/or a husband and wife arguing. “The BPS has not seen an increase in domestic incidents that involve domestic violence since the island started to be socially, physically and economically impacted by the coronavirus, Covid-19.”Centre Against Abuse can be contacted at 292-4366, through its 24-hour hotline at 297-8278, or by e-mail to info@centreagainstabuse.bm. For more information, visit centreagainstabuse.bm