Even with overlapping routes and gatherings... the spread of 'Corona Stress'

Rising Anxiety as Confirmed Cases and Contacts Increase Nearby
Startled Even at Different Dates and Times
Seek Expert Help if Daily Life is Disrupted

On the 26th, a disposable mask sold-out notice is posted at a pharmacy near Kyung Hee University in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] "I thought it was someone else's problem, but when I heard that confirmed cases appeared nearby, I felt anxious and worried."

Office worker Lee (33) was startled while checking the movement paths of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province. This was because there was information that a confirmed case had visited a cafe inside the office building where Lee's father works. Since the confirmed case's visit was on the weekend, Lee's father was at home, and disinfection work was carried out in the building the next day, but the uneasy feeling did not go away. Lee sighed, saying, "I ask my father every day how his health is. He says he is fine because he wears a mask well, but I didn't realize COVID-19 was this close."

As COVID-19 deeply penetrates daily life, stress in local communities is also increasing. Cases of living in the same neighborhood or overlapping movement paths with confirmed cases or contacts are continuously rising, and ordinary citizens who hear the news cannot hide their anxiety.

Lee (31), who works in an office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, never takes off his mask even inside the office. This is because it was revealed that one of his colleagues partially overlapped movement paths with a confirmed case. Lee said, "I was somewhat relieved because there were no confirmed cases or contacts around me, but now I am worried thinking that I could get infected too."

Yoon (65, female), who works as a building cleaner, started checking her temperature herself by buying a thermometer for over 50,000 won at a pharmacy after hearing news of a confirmed case in a nearby neighborhood. Yoon complained, "There is a church in the building where I work, and even though it is not Shincheonji Church of Jesus, just seeing many people coming and going makes me anxious."

This anxiety soon leads to stress. The number of psychological counseling cases conducted by the 'COVID-19 Integrated Psychological Support Team,' launched at the end of January, exceeded 3,000 in the first half of this month over 15 days. Although counseling cases have not been separately counted since then, psychological support is expected to have increased further as COVID-19 has spread nationwide.

Experts warn that symptoms of infectious disease stress may include excessive anxiety and fear, suspicion and vigilance toward others, and lethargy. If suspicion of others or fear interferes with daily life, it is advisable to seek professional help.

The National Trauma Center presented seven ways to cope with infectious disease stress: ▲ focusing on reliable information ▲ seeking expert advice ▲ sharing difficult emotions with those around you ▲ taking care of your body and mind through sufficient sleep and meals ▲ paying attention to children and adolescents ▲ helping alleviate anxiety of isolated patients and their families ▲ supporting medical staff and quarantine workers.