Mask-up, follow COVID appropriate behaviour: Karnataka govt
Bengaluru, Dec 26: Wearing masks, not sending children with symptoms to schools, adhering to COVID appropriate behaviour like social distancing, seven days home isolation and leave for infected patients, are among the measures that have been decided by the Karnataka government's cabinet sub-committee on coronavirus, amid a spike in cases and detection of JN.1 infections in the state.
It has also decided to administer "precautionary vaccine" for the aged and those with comorbidities and to get 30,000 doses of Corbevax vaccine from the Centre for this purpose.
Detailed guidelines in this regard will be issued by the government soon, with New Year too round the corner.
"The guidelines are- everyone is advised to wear masks, especially those above 60 years of age and those with comorbidities compulsorily. Children, those with symptoms like cold, fever among other things should not be sent to school and remain at home under watch, also tested if required," Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said.
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Speaking to reporters after chairing the cabinet sub-committee meeting on COVID, he said, the government is not imposing any restrictions on New Year celebrations and gatherings, but there is a general advisory to wear masks at crowded places and observe COVID appropriate behaviour like social distancing, using disinfectants or hand wash.
"Those infected with COVID should remain in home isolation for a week if not required to be hospitalised. All those who undergo home isolation and are working in government and non-government sectors should be given mandatory casual leave for a week, while those hospitalised should be given special leave for the hospitalisation period and guidelines will be issued on this," he added.
The Minister reiterated there is no need for people to worry, but stressed the need to be cautious and take precautions.
There is no restriction on movement of people, also no screening or testing of people at border areas as of now, he added.
This was the first meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on COVID which was attended by Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, Medical Education Minister Sharana Prakash Patil, and Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar, along with Rao.
The Karnataka Department of Health & Family Welfare Services on Monday said 34 cases of COVID-19's variant JN.1 have been detected in the state so far, which include three deaths.
Stating that the cabinet sub-committee discussed the COVID situation with inputs on the situation both at the national and international level, Rao said the JN.1 infections are not surprising nor there is no need to panic about it, as its spread was expected.
The WHO and Union Health Ministry have classified JN.1 as Variant of Interest (VoI) and not Variant of Concern (VoC), he said, but precautions should be taken.
Admitting that though the state government had said 5,000 COVID tests per day will be conducted from Saturday, there was a slight delay and about 3,200 tests were done on Monday, the Minister said today the number of tests will reach 5,000 and necessary kits have been distributed to all districts and taluks.
"More tests will result in getting to know about more cases and infection spread."
As of Monday 4,110 active cases are there across the country, out of them 3,096 are from Kerala, 436 in Karnataka, followed by other states, he said and added "it is to be noticed that Kerala and Karnataka are doing more number of tests...so more number of cases are being reported."
Out of the 436 cases in Karnataka 400 are in home isolation, while 36 are in hospital, and out of them only 7 are in ICU, he further said and added those under home isolation will be tracked and follow-up will be done, also sewage surveillance in cities like Bengaluru and Mangaluru among others has been suggested for the sake of tracking.
Instructions have also been given to carry out a death audit, he said, adding "seven deaths have happened after the recent spike in cases and out of them as per current information at least three were with JN.1 infection and information regarding others are awaited, and all of them had comorbidities....out of seven four were unvaccinated."
Noting that it has been decided to ensure the availability and working condition of tele ICUs and ICU beds, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants and Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), Rao said, directions have been issued to ensure all facilities are up-to-date and there are no shortcomings.
Pointing out that there is an opportunity for precautionary vaccine doses for those who have taken the first and second dose of COVID vaccine, the Minister said, "we have directed to get 30,000 doses of Corbevax from the Centre. These precautionary vaccines are for those with comorbidities, those using immunosuppressants and aged persons. It is for those who have not taken booster doses earlier."
There are no vaccine stocks, he said and added that the state government is also writing to the Centre to provide Covaxin and Covishield, for anyone who wants to take vaccination afresh.
It has also been decided to administer flu vaccines compulsorily to all health workers in the state for the sake of protection, and these vaccines will be purchased based on the requirement, Rao said. Also, separate COVID wards are being set up at Victoria Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru, all hospitals of medical colleges and all district hospitals.
Noting that a committee has been constituted for price fixation on testing at private hospitals and testing or diagnostic centres, he said, within a couple of days an announcement will be made to this effect. It is also being directed not to do unnecessary CT scan of patients until they are diagnosed with COVID "to avoid misuse," he added.
In response to a question, the Minister said the Indian Institute of Science and Indian Statistical Institute have been asked to do a predictive analysis with available data and submit a report about the possible spike in cases in the days ahead.
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Adani touts financial strength, shows can grow without external debt
New Delhi (PTI): Billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate on Monday touted its financial and credit details of its portfolio companies to investors, showcasing its robust profits and cash flows that can sustain growth without reliance on external debt.
The ports-to-energy conglomerate, which has been hit by an indictment in a US court against its founder chairman Gautam Adani and two other executives for allegedly bribing Indian official to secure solar power contracts, in a presentation to the investors highlighted its consistently expanding profits and cash flows, which over a period have led to lowering dependence on debt for its growth ambitions.
Equity now accounts for almost two third of its total asset creation, a stark contrast to five years ago. In the last six months, the group has invested close to Rs 75,227 crore, against a total debt increase of only Rs 16,882 crore.
A note was also shared with the investors, along with presentations.
Outlining the group's liquidity position, the note said, "Adani Portfolio companies have sufficient liquidity to cover all debt servicing requirements for at least 12 months. As of September 30, 2024, Adani Portfolio companies had a cash of Rs 53,024 crore, which was close to 21 per cent of its total gross debt outstanding".
This amount, it said, was sufficient to cover the next 28 months of debt servicing requirement.
GROWTH WITHOUT DEBT
In the past, the group has announced plans to invest over Rs 8 lakh crore (USD 100 billion) across portfolio companies in the next ten years.
The Fund Flows from Operations (FFO) or cash profits stood at Rs 58,908 crore for the last twelve months and is growing over 30 per cent for the past five years. On the basis of this, even after assuming no growth, the group will be able to invest Rs 5.9 lakh crore only from its internal cash accruals over the next ten years, leaving very little dependency on external debt.
Further, at the portfolio level, there is very low debt gearing of 2.46x -- which means it has massive headroom for debt, according to the presentation.
Other highlights from the presentation included EBITDA (earnings before interest tax and depreciation) for the last twelve months, which it said is highly stable and hence predictable due to its infrastructure projects, which grew by 17 per cent to Rs 83,440 crore.
Also, existing annual cash flows alone can pay the entire debt in 3 years.
Gross assets/investments increased by Rs 75,227 crore, against total debt increase of only Rs 16,882 crore. Asset base has now increased to Rs 5.5 lakh crore.
Average cost of borrowing at 8.2 per cent, lowest in the last 5 years, due to upgrade in ratings across group companies, it said.
Adani Group's long-term debt from domestic banks was Rs 94,400 crore. This stood against a cash balance of Rs 53,024 crore, most of which was parked with Indian banks.
Borrowings from global banks were 27 per cent of total debt.
