40% S.Koreans face mental health issues due to COVID-19

ANKARA

Tough restrictions due to coronavirus in South Korea have affected the mental health of its citizens, an official survey showed on Wednesday.

Four out of 10 residents in the capital Seoul believe their mental health has deteriorated due to the novel virus outbreak in the country, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Out of 3,983 respondents in an online survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government between July and August, 40% or 1,489 respondents said their mental health has worsened since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The remaining 60% said there has been little change in their mental health.

The reasons cited for these negative effects are economic fallout, lack of leisure life due to social distancing, reduced outdoor activities, 'inconvenience' of wearing a mask, and disconnection among family and friends.

Around 51% of respondents said social distancing guidelines are indispensable and cause little inconvenience.

But 41% said though the health measures are necessary, they are troubling.

Over 24% of people believe economic loss has affected their lives.

Last month, authorities placed Seoul and its surrounding areas under strict lockdown, banning gatherings and rallies of 10 or more people after new infections spiked in the metropolitan.

The Southeast Asian nation reported 113 more cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 23,812, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

With six more fatalities, the death toll also rose to 413, while 21,590 patients have recovered.