Resources for Journalists

At least one in 500 children estimated to have caught COVID-19 in pandemic's first year

Publicly released: Mon 13 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were detected in seven children (5–9 years, one; 10–19 years, six): three in Victoria, three in New South Wales, one in Queensland; three specimens ... The crude Read more about At least one in 500 children estimated to have caught COVID-19 in pandemic's first year

Investing 1% of the world's GDP in a green recovery could reduce global emissions 8.5% by 2030

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jun 2022 at 1011 AEST, 1211 NZST

Frontiers in Climate

Main Text: The Covid-19 pandemic not only caused a global health and economic crisis but also significantly reduced global CO2 emissions in 2020 by 6 to 7%, compared to 2019. ... Reduction of CO2 Read more about Investing 1% of the world's GDP in a green recovery could reduce global emissions 8.5% by 2030

COVID-19 during pregnancy could impact baby’s development later on

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jun 2022 at 0945 AEST, 1145 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Early evidence has found that babies born to mothers that had a COVID-19 infection while pregnant in 2020 were more likely to receive a neurodevelopmental diagnosis in the first year ... Most of these Read more about COVID-19 during pregnancy could impact baby’s development later on

The pandemic’s impact on lung cancer diagnoses for Māori

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

occur - not just in the context of Covid-19. ... Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency has been monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on access to cancer services since the start of the pandemic. Read more about The pandemic’s impact on lung cancer diagnoses for Māori

Fewer than 1-in-2 frontline healthcare workers say they had formal PPE training when COVID-19 hit

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 1615 AEST, 1815 NZST

PLOS ONE

One in five healthcare workers received no training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when COVID-19 hit and less than one in two received formal training in the ... The participants also Read more about Fewer than 1-in-2 frontline healthcare workers say they had formal PPE training when COVID-19 hit

Probiotics didn’t reduce uni test stress, but lockdown had an unexpected effect

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 1121 AEST, 1321 NZST

PLOS One

They found no difference between the probiotic and a placebo, but highlight that overall student stress levels actually went down right before exams. ... The team says NZ’s COVID-19 lockdown went from Read more about Probiotics didn’t reduce uni test stress, but lockdown had an unexpected effect

Hidden casualty of Russia’s war: global phosphorus security

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Amid worsening global disruptions to food and fertiliser supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s essential resources is under threat. ... from households, retail Read more about Hidden casualty of Russia’s war: global phosphorus security

Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0800 AEST, 1000 NZST

Immunity

Published in Immunity, the study is among the first to analyse the immune response of children following infection with SARS-CoV-2, using new technologies and a group of more than ... Study senior author Read more about Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Post-COVID-19 condition rarer in children during Omicron era

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a rare condition found in children after COVID-19 infection, has become even more rare in the Omicron era, according to Danish data. ... They say the rates of MIC Read more about Post-COVID-19 condition rarer in children during Omicron era

The Australian death rate in 2020 was the lowest on record

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The updated data includes causes of death and region-specific data, including the first data on COVID-19 deaths in the country. ... These products include information up to 2020 (including preliminary Read more about The Australian death rate in 2020 was the lowest on record

Suicide rates might be lower in women who use hormonal contraception

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jun 2022 at 0805 AEST, 1005 NZST

European Congress of Psychiatry

The research team found that attempted suicide rates between hormonal contraceptive users and non-users were similarly high in women between 15-19 (in general, suicide rates are higher in younger Read more about Suicide rates might be lower in women who use hormonal contraception

Red pandas face a fractured future

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0931 AEST, 1131 NZST

Landscape Ecology

He returned to Australia in January 2020, with the intention of returning to Nepal within a few months to continue monitoring the animals and install cameras in the field, but ... It was a surreal Read more about Red pandas face a fractured future

Flu vax rates for Victorian healthcare workers dropped in 2021

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2021, flu vaccination rates among Victorian health care and aged care workers dropped, according to Australian research. ... It is likely that influenza vaccination Read more about Flu vax rates for Victorian healthcare workers dropped in 2021

GI cancer detection rates higher during lockdown, but fewer cancers found

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

During Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdowns, gastrointestinal cancer detection rates were higher as the focus shifted to prioritising urgent cases. ... A total of 1147 endoscopic procedures were performed Read more about GI cancer detection rates higher during lockdown, but fewer cancers found

Doing CPR with a face mask works

Publicly released: Sat 4 Jun 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

Euroanaesthesia 2022

Along with chest compressions, it forms cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, CPR training in the Czech Republic and elsewhere was limited to either tuition in Read more about Doing CPR with a face mask works

COVID-19 kidney injury twice as common as diagnosed

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

PLOS Medicine

Dr Wainstein said when researchers also measured the fall in creatinine levels, which often follows the initial rise, the rate of AKI diagnosis in COVID-19 patients doubled. ... That was a pretty shocking Read more about COVID-19 kidney injury twice as common as diagnosed

Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for UN World Food Safety Day

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

This past 12 months has seen a mixed report card for Australian food safety and now we are out and about with relaxing public health measures required to control COVID-19 ... Much of this reduction could Read more about Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for UN World Food Safety Day

The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 1016 AEST, 1216 NZST

Perceptual and Motor Skills

This relationship was observed at two timepoints: immediately after the initial COVID-19-related shutdown of sport in South Australia and approximately six months later, at the end of the athletes' Read more about The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

EXPERT REACTION: How might waning immunity and reinfections affect NZ’s next Omicron wave?

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

Researchers from Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa modelled different scenarios, finding that a second smaller COVID wave arose in the latter half of 2022 in all scenarios, however a higher peak of Read more about EXPERT REACTION: How might waning immunity and reinfections affect NZ’s next Omicron wave?

Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 better than a RAT

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

French and Emirati researchers have found that dogs trained to sniff out COVID-19 infections in people can do so with a high sensitivity and even perform better than some commonplace ... Future research Read more about Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 better than a RAT