If you’re feeling anxious during the 21-day lockdown for the coronavirus, help is a phone call away.

The district administration of Ranchi has opened a mental health helpline that started functioning on Thursday.

Those who are feeling sad or nervous due the novel coronavirus threat may seek assistance by calling 9801114493 or 9801133966 between noon and 5pm, the administration had announced earlier.

Though it was the first day and many may not have been aware that it had already started functioning, the helpline got about dozens of calls on Thursday.

“We received about 35-40 calls today (Thursday),” said a counsellor who was among those taking the calls and advising the callers.

“They mostly had anxiety related queries.”

Most callers wanted to be sure if certain indications such as cold and cough could lead to novel coronavirus infection.

CCL preparation

Central Coalfields Limited has earmarked 38 quarantined beds in its four central hospitals at Gandhi Nagar (Ranchi), Ramgarh, Dakra and Dhori, besides a single-bed corona specific ICU with ventilator support in Ranchi, the coal giant’s chairman cum managing director Gopal Singh said on Thursday.

The company was also buying medical equipment worth Rs 80 lakh and medicines worth Rs 8 lakh on an urgent basis, he added.

Free food

Ranchi Club started distributing food among the needy on Thursday.

The club will feed 400 poor persons at lunch every day for the rest 19 days of the lockdown period, said club president Rajesh Shahdeo.