Resources for Journalists

Small study suggests cognition and mental health concerns after COVID-19 similar to other illnesses

Publicly released: Thu 24 Mar 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

To compare the mental impact of COVID-19 with other illnesses, the researchers matched 85 COVID-19 survivors with 61 people who suffered other, similarly severe illnesses, and tested their cognitive Read more about Small study suggests cognition and mental health concerns after COVID-19 similar to other illnesses

With Omicron dominating - just how useful are COVID-19 antiviral drugs?

Publicly released: Thu 24 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Australian Prescriber

What we know about the effectiveness of COVID-19 antiviral drugs largely comes from their use on unvaccinated people infected with the Delta variant - a group that now forms only a ... They say the Read more about With Omicron dominating - just how useful are COVID-19 antiviral drugs?

Smell abnormality 16 times more common in COVID-19 cases

Publicly released: Wed 23 Mar 2022 at 1501 AEDT, 1701 NZDT

The Laryngoscope

The prevalence of an olfactory cleft abnormality was nearly 16-fold higher in patients with COVID-19 and olfactory dysfunction (63%) compared with controls (4%). ... Before this study, most scientists Read more about Smell abnormality 16 times more common in COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 booster research to inform Australia’s vaccine policy

Publicly released: Wed 23 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

School, the results of PICOBOO will be rapidly disseminated and translated to inform national and potentially global COVID-19 immunisation practice and policy. ... This research will play a vital role in Read more about COVID-19 booster research to inform Australia’s vaccine policy

When COVID-19 kept athletes off the field, it also kept them out of hospital

Publicly released: Wed 23 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Nearly 8000 fewer sports-related injuries were recorded across Australia at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous year, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Read more about When COVID-19 kept athletes off the field, it also kept them out of hospital

Vaccine-induced T cells provide long-lasting immune response to COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 22 Mar 2022 at 1800 AEDT, 2000 NZDT

Nature Immunology

a sustained level of these cells capable of recognising the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. ... When individuals were re-exposed to the COVID-19 spike protein through vaccination, the part of the virus that Read more about Vaccine-induced T cells provide long-lasting immune response to COVID-19

UK gastro cases dropped dramatically early in the pandemic

Publicly released: Tue 22 Mar 2022 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

BMJ Open

Gut infection outbreaks halved during first 6 months of COVID-19 pandemic in UK Several factors likely involved, but measures adopted to curb coronavirus had key role Could see permanent change Read more about UK gastro cases dropped dramatically early in the pandemic

Sydney suburbs highly connected to neighbouring areas most affected by COVID

Publicly released: Mon 21 Mar 2022 at 1500 AEDT, 1700 NZDT

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Led by University of Sydney researcher Dr Shahadat Uddin and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study examined the spread of COVID-19 outbreaks Read more about Sydney suburbs highly connected to neighbouring areas most affected by COVID

GP collaboration took pressure off hospitals during COVID-19 surge

Publicly released: Mon 21 Mar 2022 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

The multi-dimensional constructed model, which included financial, social and mental health supports, resulted in more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients being treated successfully in their own Read more about GP collaboration took pressure off hospitals during COVID-19 surge

Designing a Covid-19 lockdown

Publicly released: Mon 21 Mar 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

How might lockdowns might be best designed to both maximise compliance and stop the spread of the virus? ... NZ researchers asked 16 Covid-19 experts to rank lockdown features solely based on their Read more about Designing a Covid-19 lockdown

Victoria's postcode lottery of COVID-19 cases

Publicly released: Mon 21 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS POINT TO COVID-19 INFECTIONSTHE incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections was higher in Victorian postcodes with larger proportions of unemployed people, those without paid leave Read more about Victoria's postcode lottery of COVID-19 cases

Two RATs instead of one can sniff out false positives

Publicly released: Sat 19 Mar 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Taking a second rapid antigen test immediately after a positive result could reduce the amount of false COVID-19 positives, according to international researchers. ... The team looked at a US company Read more about Two RATs instead of one can sniff out false positives

How common is myocarditis after an mRNA booster?

Publicly released: Fri 18 Mar 2022 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

JAMA

The majority of participants were aged 18-24, with previous studies showing men in that age bracket to be at a relatively higher risk than older male booster recipients and women. ... Nine participants, Read more about How common is myocarditis after an mRNA booster?

One in three kids with disabilities have experienced violence in their lifetimes

Publicly released: Fri 18 Mar 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

A linked comment from an Australian expert notes that there may have been an escalation in rates of violence against children with disability since the COVID-19 pandemic. ... an escalation in rates of Read more about One in three kids with disabilities have experienced violence in their lifetimes

Negativity on social media rose dramatically in Australia at the start of the pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 18 Mar 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Human Behaviour

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated government policies have affected global health and economies, and this can be tracked using medical and financial data. ... Outbreaks of COVID-19 caused a rapid Read more about Negativity on social media rose dramatically in Australia at the start of the pandemic

Brain blood clots a much higher risk after COVID-19 than after an mRNA vaccine

Publicly released: Fri 18 Mar 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

The researchers say six CVT cases were identified among just over 60,000 COVID-19 patients, and nine CVT cases were identified among 3 million people vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna. ... The researchers Read more about Brain blood clots a much higher risk after COVID-19 than after an mRNA vaccine

mRNA vaccines safe for people with impaired immunity

Publicly released: Thu 17 Mar 2022 at 1600 AEDT, 1800 NZDT

Frontiers in Oncology

The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 appear to be well tolerated by people who are immunocompromised, such as cancer patients. ... Our ongoing safety monitoring of the Covid-19 vaccine Read more about mRNA vaccines safe for people with impaired immunity

Mother to baby transmission of COVID-19 is rare

Publicly released: Thu 17 Mar 2022 at 1114 AEDT, 1314 NZDT

The BMJ

to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for covid-19 infection) also test positive around the time of birth, finds an analysis of the latest evidence published by The ... As such, they conclude: Read more about Mother to baby transmission of COVID-19 is rare

No increased risk of rare neurological events after COVID-19 vaccination

Publicly released: Thu 17 Mar 2022 at 1057 AEDT, 1257 NZDT

The BMJ

To address this, researchers set out to study the association between covid-19 vaccines, infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for covid-19), and risk of immune mediated neurological Read more about No increased risk of rare neurological events after COVID-19 vaccination

Mild COVID-19 may put you at a higher risk of developing diabetes

Publicly released: Thu 17 Mar 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

Diabetologia

They found that in the COVID-19 group there were 15. 8 new cases of type 2 diabetes per 1000 people per year, compared to 12. ... During an average follow-up of 119 days for COVID-19 and 161 days for AURI, Read more about Mild COVID-19 may put you at a higher risk of developing diabetes