"Am I COVID Positive?"... Why Are People Going to 'Danggeun' to Ask?

Sharing Tips on Suspicious Symptoms and How to Respond

Used goods trading platform 'Danggeun' has transformed into a community for sharing information related to COVID-19. This change comes as the number of infections has surged recently due to the COVID-19 resurgence, with netizens voluntarily sharing suspected symptoms, coping methods, and more.

Danggeun announced on the 22nd that from the 14th to the 20th, the search volume for COVID-19-related keywords in the Danggeun Neighborhood Life tab increased about 23 times. The number of related posts also surged approximately fivefold during the same period.

A post sharing information related to COVID-19 on the secondhand trading platform 'Danggeun'. [Image source=Danggeun]

The most frequently asked questions by netizens on Danggeun concern COVID-19 symptoms. This seems to stem from curiosity as symptoms appear similar to those of a common cold. For example, in one question titled "Is this a cold or COVID?", other users shared related symptoms in the comments such as "high fever," "body aches," "sore throat," "muscle pain," and "nausea."

Locations of convenience stores where self-diagnostic kits and treatments can be easily obtained are also being shared. Additionally, questions about which hospitals to visit if testing positive are frequently seen.

On the afternoon of the 16th, when the COVID-19 outbreak was spreading, a notice saying "COVID test kits available" was posted at a pharmacy in downtown Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Besides this, concerns about the increasing number of confirmed cases, COVID-19 aftereffects, and personal experiences have also been posted. A heartwarming scene has emerged with an outpouring of supportive and encouraging messages directed at patients.

Danggeun stated, "Due to the rapidly spreading transmission, there is an active exchange of COVID-19 information among neighbors in nearby communities," and added, "Going forward, Danggeun Neighborhood Life will continue to serve as a local community where many can give and receive help."

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 infections has been rapidly increasing recently. According to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of the second week of August (4th to 10th), the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 1,357, which is about 22 times higher than the 63 patients recorded in the fourth week of June (23rd to 29th) over six weeks. In some areas, shortages of COVID-19 treatments such as Paxlovid and diagnostic kits have reportedly occurred.