The recent surge in Omicron cases in the country has sparked several concerns about the coronavirus and its long-term impact on human health and the economy. The new variant’s detection has also seen booster doses being recommended for front-line workers and vulnerable individuals, which, again, has raised questions about the efficacy of the existing vaccination process. The outcome is a combination of anxiety and fear as we, once again, gaze into the unknown.

To address some of these concerns, the Asia Society India Centre has announced a talk titled New Year, New Variant: Decoding the Virus, Symptoms and Immunology. The talk will feature eminent names from the medical fraternity, including Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor of microbiology, at the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory; Dr Ambarish Satwik, a vascular surgeon; Professor K Srinath Reddy, member of the Kerala Covid-19 expert committee; Dr TS Anish, president, Public Health Foundation of India; and Dr Sarah Iqbal, a science engagement consultant. The panel will discuss the peaking cases, the efficacy of vaccinations, genome sequencing, mutations, and Covid-19-appropriate behaviours.