Resources for Journalists

Ventilation key to managing risk of 'long-distance' indoor COVID-19 transmission

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The BMJ

A review of 18 existing studies indicates that airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from an infectious individual to others located more than two metres away can happen in ... Since the early Read more about Ventilation key to managing risk of 'long-distance' indoor COVID-19 transmission

Two Pfizer doses offer 'moderate' protection against symptomatic Omicron in kids

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

The researchers matched 130,000 recently vaccinated children with 95,000 unvaccinated controls during Israel's Omicron wave, and say one to three weeks after vaccination, protection against infection Read more about Two Pfizer doses offer 'moderate' protection against symptomatic Omicron in kids

Mental health issues for long-COVID patients require deeper study

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Despite difficulties in estimating the overall prevalence of symptoms, the most commonly reported neurologic symptoms in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 are fatigue in 33%, sleep Read more about Mental health issues for long-COVID patients require deeper study

$79m in funding for NZ health research

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Developing non-addictive drug compounds to treat pain, reducing the burden of osteoarthritis, and investigating the impact of COVID-19 on Māori/non-Māori inequities are among the projects to be Read more about $79m in funding for NZ health research

COVID-19 measures in the US may have avoided around 250 million infections in 2020

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

3 million COVID-19 infections in the US before vaccines were available, according to a modelling study by international researchers. ... Estimating the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on US SARS Read more about COVID-19 measures in the US may have avoided around 250 million infections in 2020

Who is most likely to get long COVID?

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

8% and 17% of COVID-19 patients, with between 1. 2% and 4. ... To investigate instances of long COVID, Ellen Thompson and colleagues used data from 6,907 individuals with self-reported COVID-19 from ten Read more about Who is most likely to get long COVID?

Tropics weather the COVID-19 storm but challenges remain

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Northern Queensland may be on the road to recovery from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impacts of the virus have been put into sharp focus in a ... Many communities that avoided the first Read more about Tropics weather the COVID-19 storm but challenges remain

Cheers! Here’s to the health-conscious youth: an untapped drinks market for restaurants

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jun 2022 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

PLOS ONE

Conducted by the University of South Australia, Flinders University and the University of Otago, the study showed that 27 per cent of consumers would pay nearly double the price for ‘healthy’ Read more about Cheers! Here’s to the health-conscious youth: an untapped drinks market for restaurants

COVID-19 vaccine booster dose protects against Omicron severe disease

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jun 2022 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

The Lancet preprints

The study findings confirm that the COVID-19 vaccine schedule used in Australia protects against severe disease from Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection. ... This Australian study is an important addition to the Read more about COVID-19 vaccine booster dose protects against Omicron severe disease

More deaths were seen in hospitals during Australia's 3rd COVID-19 wave

Publicly released: Mon 27 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

The fact SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was more virulent than earlier strains and therefore more likely to cause severe disease requiring intensive care, was one explanation, according to the authors. Read more about More deaths were seen in hospitals during Australia's 3rd COVID-19 wave

A shorter wait for cataract surgery could prevent injuries from falls

Publicly released: Mon 27 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

For the 118 participants who underwent second eye surgery and participated in all follow-up visits, age- and sex-adjusted incidence before (0. ... The problem has been exacerbated by deferral of elective Read more about A shorter wait for cataract surgery could prevent injuries from falls

Modelling suggests COVID-19 vaccines prevented 20 million deaths worldwide in first year

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Lancet Infectious Diseases

of COVID-19 and from the other major diseases that continue to disproportionately affect the poorest. ... lives by the unprecedented rapidity of development and roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines is an Read more about Modelling suggests COVID-19 vaccines prevented 20 million deaths worldwide in first year

COVID-19 widened Australia's 'loneliness gap'

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Aussie scientists used survey data from 2065 participants to investigate the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on loneliness in Australia. ... The authors conclude that COVID-19 has increased potential Read more about COVID-19 widened Australia's 'loneliness gap'

Fourth dose of COVID vaccine increases protection against severe disease and death in aged care

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

The study found that following a 4th dose, 17. 6% of residents contracted COVID compared to 24. ... There were also less than half of the number of COVID deaths in the 4th dose group than in the group Read more about Fourth dose of COVID vaccine increases protection against severe disease and death in aged care

Long COVID symptoms reported in kids under 14

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

This is supported by approximately one third of children with positive COVID-19 tests experiencing symptoms that were not present before the SARS-CoV-2 infection. ... frequent in children who had been Read more about Long COVID symptoms reported in kids under 14

Could going on holiday be a treatment for dementia?

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Tourism Management

A shift in thinking  Dr Wen said COVID-19’s impact on travel in recent years had raised questions about tourism’s value beyond lifestyle and economic factors. ... So, after COVID, it’s a good time Read more about Could going on holiday be a treatment for dementia?

Hashtag plandemic - how COVID misinformation spread on twitter

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Social media became the home of an "infodemic" of misinformation during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and international researchers have tracked how users with tweets using the hashtags "Scamdemic" and Read more about Hashtag plandemic - how COVID misinformation spread on twitter

Online classes during COVID lockdowns helped students' mental health

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 1701 AEST, 1901 NZST

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports

Online classes during COVID lockdowns may have helped students' mental health according to a Japanese study. ... Do online classes during school closures impact students’ mental health? New research Read more about Online classes during COVID lockdowns helped students' mental health

Could your activity tracker tell if you're about to develop COVID-19 symptoms?

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

They all took regular rapid antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection. ... COVID-19 symptoms lasted an average of 8. 5 days. Using machine learning, an algorithm was Read more about Could your activity tracker tell if you're about to develop COVID-19 symptoms?

Inability to stand on one leg later in life linked to near doubling of death risk

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

British Journal of Sports Medicine

During an average monitoring period of 7 years, 123 (7%) people died: cancer (32%); cardiovascular disease (30%); respiratory disease (9%); and COVID-19 complications (7%). ... And information on Read more about Inability to stand on one leg later in life linked to near doubling of death risk