Resources for Journalists

What an Omicron outbreak might look like in NZ

Publicly released: Tue 8 Feb 2022 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

For an outbreak that started this month where 90 per cent of eligible people got a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, peak demand for hospital beds would range from ... Modelling just released by Read more about What an Omicron outbreak might look like in NZ

Researchers define Long COVID in kids

Publicly released: Tue 8 Feb 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

Archives of Disease in Childhood

symptoms have waxed and waned over that period)These translate into: “Post-COVID-19 condition occurs in young people with a history of confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection [the virus responsible Read more about Researchers define Long COVID in kids

COVID-19 linked to later heart problems - even for milder cases

Publicly released: Tue 8 Feb 2022 at 1019 AEDT, 1219 NZDT

Nature Medicine

COVID-19 infections may significantly increase a person’s risk of heart disease for at least one year after recovery, even if the infection itself did not land them in hospital. ... According to an Read more about COVID-19 linked to later heart problems - even for milder cases

Pregnant COVID-19 patients at increased risk of death and serious complications

Publicly released: Tue 8 Feb 2022 at 1015 AEDT, 1215 NZDT

JAMA

Looking at the rates of death and serious complications relating to high blood pressure, haemorrhage and infections other than COVID-19, the researchers say the risk was 13. ... 4 per cent for COVID-19 Read more about Pregnant COVID-19 patients at increased risk of death and serious complications

Getting a COVID-19 jab while pregnant could ensure bub has antibodies against the virus

Publicly released: Tue 8 Feb 2022 at 1014 AEDT, 1214 NZDT

JAMA

Most babies born to women who got their COVID jabs while pregnant will have antibodies against the virus at 6 months of age, according to US research. ... In contrast, very few babies born to mothers who Read more about Getting a COVID-19 jab while pregnant could ensure bub has antibodies against the virus

New type of COVID-19 test gives accurate result in under 4 minutes

Publicly released: Tue 8 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Biomedical Engineering

The test was able to detect the virus in less than four minutes from samples taken from 33 patients with confirmed COVID-19. ... The authors say with more development the test could be used for COVID-19 Read more about New type of COVID-19 test gives accurate result in under 4 minutes

EXPERT REACTION: Contacts for Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Publicly released: Fri 4 Feb 2022 at 1228 AEDT, 1428 NZDT

The Winter Olympics starts today in Beijing, so to help you along the SMC has put together a list of experts and comments for you to use in your coverage. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Contacts for Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

COVID-19 infection could offer some level of natural immunity for up to 20 months in the unvaccinated

Publicly released: Fri 4 Feb 2022 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

JAMA

US researchers have found evidence of some level of natural immunity in unvaccinated people up to 20 months after COVID-19 infection. ... The researchers looked for antibodies against the part of the Read more about COVID-19 infection could offer some level of natural immunity for up to 20 months in the unvaccinated

15 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Olympic village throughout the games

Publicly released: Fri 4 Feb 2022 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

JAMA

Across the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, 15 people staying in the Olympic Village tested positive for COVID-19, according to international research. ... The participants were subject to Read more about 15 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Olympic village throughout the games

High vaccine coverage can reduce COVID-19 transmission within a community

Publicly released: Fri 4 Feb 2022 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

High vaccination coverage can significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission within a US university setting, according to international research. ... 90. 8 per cent among students, 92. 2 per cent among faculty Read more about High vaccine coverage can reduce COVID-19 transmission within a community

Fact-checking can immediately change false beliefs about COVID-19, but only briefly

Publicly released: Fri 4 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Human Behaviour

Fact-checking to debunk COVID-19 misinformation can help change people's beliefs, but only for a short while, according to US research. ... However, the authors found little evidence that fact-checks Read more about Fact-checking can immediately change false beliefs about COVID-19, but only briefly

Delaying a second Pfizer vaccination could improve antibody response

Publicly released: Fri 4 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Immunology

Receiving a second Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 two to four months after your first dose could improve your antibody response compared to a three to six-week gap, according to ... The researchers say those Read more about Delaying a second Pfizer vaccination could improve antibody response

As the Aussie home ownership dream fades – it’s time to lift our game for renters

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 2100 AEDT, 2300 NZDT

Nature Scientific Data

For more than 20 years, no large-scale national dataset existed. ”Funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), a research team Read more about As the Aussie home ownership dream fades – it’s time to lift our game for renters

Novel biomarkers help decode metastatic breast cancer

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 1545 AEDT, 1745 NZDT

Life

The research shows a direct relation between the number of these associations and the severity of the disease. ... Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, 98 per cent of breast screens have been cancelled or Read more about Novel biomarkers help decode metastatic breast cancer

COVID-19 boosters and some medications appear to neutralise Omicron

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 1530 AEDT, 1730 NZDT

Nature

The team tested a variety of COVID-19 medications against the Omicron spike protein, and say while casivirimab and imdevimab appear unable to neutralise Omicron either separately or in combination, Read more about COVID-19 boosters and some medications appear to neutralise Omicron

Twin study suggests T cells may be key to COVID-19 reinfection

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Open Biology

We investigated different immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 in three pairs of recovered young-adult MZ twins, one twin presenting severe recurrence 4 months after the initial infection. ... This Read more about Twin study suggests T cells may be key to COVID-19 reinfection

Stringent public health measures may be needed to safely reopen schools

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

A Canadian study has found that safely reopening schools requires stringent public health measures in the community, mitigation efforts in schools, and efforts to minimise  COVID-19 transmission in Read more about Stringent public health measures may be needed to safely reopen schools

Childhood trauma may make people more wary of COVID-19 vaccines

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

BMJ Open

The survey asked about nine types of childhood trauma and collected personal details and experiences of long-term health conditions, levels of trust in health service information on COVID-19, and Read more about Childhood trauma may make people more wary of COVID-19 vaccines

Most preprints are reliable and trustworthy

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

Coates and his colleagues compared all the COVID-19 preprints posted and published within the first 4 months of the pandemic and found that over 83% of COVID and 93% of ... By manually comparing the Read more about Most preprints are reliable and trustworthy

Other infections rise after easing of COVID-19 restrictions

Publicly released: Wed 2 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Israel has been linked to a rise in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, with kids under three the hardest hit. ... The study found that in the weeks after Read more about Other infections rise after easing of COVID-19 restrictions