“Not so many babies over Covid”
Despite popular thought, the birthrate fell across Europe nine months after the first Covid lockdown.
In England and Wales there were 13% fewer births than expected in January 2021, and 14% fewer in Scotland.
Many had predicted a surge in births, as couples passed the time during lockdown.
However, Leo Pomar of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland said the results are “similar to what has been observed in previous major crises.”
He suggested the “fear of an underlying crisis and the stress induced on couples” is responsible.
คำศัพท์
birthrate = อัตราการเกิด
fall = ลง
fewer = น้อยลง
surge = เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
crisis = วิกฤต
despite = ถึงแม้ว่า
predict = ทำนาย
observe = สังเกต
responsible = รับผิดชอบ
