Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, that has not been previously identified in humans. See below for a collection of resources to help you cover this issue (Please note: additional resources are available to journalists who are logged in).

The AusSMC also issues a daily COVID-19 update for registered journalists (click here to view an example). If you would like to receive this email, please go to your profile on MyScimex and select yes beside "Receive COVID-19 Updates?". The email update and this resources page are supported by the Google News Initiative.

Latest COVID-19 news, research, expert reactions and briefings

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  1. ‘Climate rollercoaster’: strong weather fluctuations rocked Australia in 2023

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Mar 2024 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

    Meanwhile, 2023 saw Earth record its highest temperatures ever seen in the atmosphere and the oceans, the least sea ice ever observed, and a rapid increase in sea level. ... resurging since COVID-19. Read more about ‘Climate rollercoaster’: strong weather fluctuations rocked Australia in 2023

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TAS; NT; ACTThe Australian National University
  2. Animal activity changed in unexpected ways during lockdown

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Mar 2024 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

    Nature Ecology and Evolution

    Some mammals were more active in developed areas and also exhibited greater nocturnality during COVID-19 lockdowns when human activity was also high, a paper published in Nature Ecology & Read more about Animal activity changed in unexpected ways during lockdown

    InternationalUniversity of British Columbia, Canada
  3. 2 in 5 people worldwide are experiencing some sort of neurological disorder

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

    The Lancet Neurology

    The researchers analysed the prevalence of a long list of nervous system (neurological) conditions, including intellectual disabilities, brain or movement impairments, epilepsy, migraines and even Read more about 2 in 5 people worldwide are experiencing some sort of neurological disorder

    Australia; International; NSW; VIC; QLD; SAThe University of New South Wales|University of Technology Sydney (UTS)...
  4. EXPERT REACTION: Long COVID may be no different to other long term virus effects

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

    European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

    to stem from the sheer number of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 within a short period of time, rather than the severity of long COVID symptoms or functional impairment. ... They also note that the risk Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Long COVID may be no different to other long term virus effects

    Australia; QLDQueensland Government
  5. Common viruses trigger most cases of intussusception in children

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    Clinical Infectious Diseases

    The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, found during the COVID-19 lockdowns hospital admissions for intussusception, a Read more about Common viruses trigger most cases of intussusception in children

    Australia; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)|The University of Melbourne
  6. New ‘microcombs’ dreamt up under lockdown

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Mar 2024 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

    Nature Photonics

    A NZ-led international collaboration reports an entirely new approach to this existing technology that was first theorised in Aotearoa during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. ... the University Read more about New ‘microcombs’ dreamt up under lockdown

    New Zealand; InternationalDodd-Walls Centre|University of Auckland
  7. Covid rebound could have different causes

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Mar 2024 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    However, a rebound in viral loads didn’t necessarily mean someone would feel their Covid symptoms return, and vice versa. ... The author team says symptom rebound could have several other causes, and Read more about Covid rebound could have different causes

    InternationalNational Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, China; See PDF for full list of author affiliations
  8. Covid vaccine linked to lower risk of heart complications after Covid infection

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Mar 2024 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

    Heart

    COVID-19 vaccines proved to be highly effective in reducing the severity of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19-related hospital admission and death. ... The researchers identified cases of cardiac and Read more about Covid vaccine linked to lower risk of heart complications after Covid infection

    InternationalUniversity of Oxford, UK; see PDF for full list of author affiliation
  9. Women with depression might face higher heart health risks than men

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Mar 2024 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

    JACC: Asia

    They identified 4,125,720 participants who met the study’s criteria. The median age was 44 (36-52) years, and 2,370,986 participants were men. ... Researchers also acknowledge that COVID-19 may have Read more about Women with depression might face higher heart health risks than men

    InternationalUniversity of Tokyo, Japan
  10. Our furry friends caused 12,000 human hospitalisations in Australia in a year

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    The Pets and the Pandemic survey by Animal Medicines Australia indicates increased pet ownership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. ’ ... 9 and 3. 2 per 100,000 respectively). Anaphylactic reactions to Read more about Our furry friends caused 12,000 human hospitalisations in Australia in a year

    AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
  11. COVID-19 dropped global life expectancy by 1.6 years

    Publicly released: Tue 12 Mar 2024 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

    The Lancet

    details about staggeringly high mortality from the COVID-19 pandemic within and across countries. ... In estimating excess deaths due to the pandemic, the authors accounted for deaths from the virus that Read more about COVID-19 dropped global life expectancy by 1.6 years

    Australia; New Zealand; Pacific; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TAS; NT; ACTThe University of Melbourne|The University of New South Wales...
  12. How do we get more women into healthcare and medical leadership?

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 0945 AEDT | 1145 NZDT

    Medical Journal of Australia

    Cultural change is needed to increase the number of women in healthcare and medical leadership in Australia, according to Australian researchers. ... Although more women took on medical leadership Read more about How do we get more women into healthcare and medical leadership?

    Australia; VICMonash University|Swinburne University of Technology...
  13. Most GP practices in NZ have “closed books”

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    Researchers say the situation has worsened since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that addressing closed books and limited enrolments in general practices could significantly improve Read more about Most GP practices in NZ have “closed books”

    New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington
  14. Online toolkit helps experts protect themselves from online abuse

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Mar 2024 at 0953 AEDT | 1153 NZDT

    In addition to the most recent survey, the journal Nature collaborated with the AusSMC during the height of the pandemic to ask COVID-19 experts about their experiences of online abuse. ... In Australia, Read more about Online toolkit helps experts protect themselves from online abuse

    Australia; NSW; SAAustralian Science Media Centre
  15. Men may be biologically more susceptible to COVID-19 symptoms

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Mar 2024 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

    PLOS ONE

    The researchers say these sex-specific symptom differences could help explain why men have higher death and hospitalisation rates for COVID-19. ... The authors add: “The COVI-GAPP study has revealed Read more about Men may be biologically more susceptible to COVID-19 symptoms

    InternationalPrivate University in the Principality of Liechtenstein
  16. ‘Like a lab in your pocket’ – new test strips raise game in gene-based diagnostics

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Mar 2024 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

    Nature Communications

    of the target DNA, such as the COVID virus. ... The method was illustrated in samples of the COVID-19 virus and helicobacter bacteria that cause stomach ulcers. Read more about ‘Like a lab in your pocket’ – new test strips raise game in gene-based diagnostics

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales
  17. The Covid-19 pandemic put Antarctic research on ice

    Publicly released: Sat 2 Mar 2024 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

    SCIENCE ADVANCES

    new analysis explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted science, governance, and tourism in Antarctica. ... The fact that SARS-CoV-2 traveled to the Antarctic continent despite its geographical Read more about The Covid-19 pandemic put Antarctic research on ice

    New Zealand; InternationalUniversity of Canterbury|British Antarctic Survey, University of Johannesburg
  18. 1 billion people are now obese, and Aussie rates are on the way up

    Publicly released: Fri 1 Mar 2024 at 1001 AEDT | 1201 NZDT

    The Lancet

    5kg/m2. Among school-aged children (aged five to nine years) and adolescents (aged 10-19 years), the BMI used to define obesity and underweight depended on age and sex because ... change, disruptions Read more about 1 billion people are now obese, and Aussie rates are on the way up

    Australia; New Zealand; Pacific; InternationalImperial College London, UK
  19. EXPERT REACTION: Smoking down, vaping up, and 1 in 5 of us use drugs illicitly - Australia's National Drug Strategy Household Survey

    Publicly released: Thu 29 Feb 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    The National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023

    They found that the rates of smoking dropped by two-thirds from 1991, where e-cigarette and vaping rates are up from 2. ... E-cigarettes and vaping In 2022–2023, one in 5 (19. 8%) people aged 14 and Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Smoking down, vaping up, and 1 in 5 of us use drugs illicitly - Australia's National Drug Strategy Household Survey

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TAS; NT; ACTAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

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