Dear Express Explained reader, As greater volumes of data come in, expert assessments of the threat from Omicron are becoming more encouraging: the new variant of the coronavirus that was first detected in southern Africa appears to be mild. Which means the nature of the Covid-19 threat remains broadly unchanged from what it was a month ago — Delta is the predominant concern worldwide, and masking and vaccination remain the key to preventing the spread of the disease. In India, the policy debate around delivering booster doses of the vaccine continues. The Health Ministry said this week that it was still examining the issue, and underlined that the WHO was yet to take a stand. Experts have said boosters will be required for continuing protection from Covid, but they have also stressed that wide second-dose coverage ought to be our first priority. Anuradha Mascarenhas summed up the issues in the debate on boosters — the research, the requirements, the concerns, and the compulsions. The killing of over a dozen civilians in a botched operation by the Army in Mon district of Nagaland last weekend sent shockwaves through the country's Northeast. Deeptiman Tiwary wrote on how the already tottering Naga peace process could be impacted by the incident, and Esha Roy recalled the region's tense relationship with the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, demands for the repeal of which were renewed by the killings in Mon. And while you read these explainers, do also check out Tora Agarwala's stellar reporting from the ground, speaking to those who were directly affected by the tragedy, and documenting their version of what exactly happened. Stay safe and stay aware. Keep reading The Indian Express Explained. Sincerely, Monojit (monojit.majumdar@expressindia.com) If you received this newsletter as a forward, you can subscribe to it here | Do read our Explained articles here | .png)
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