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. WHO recommends two new drugs to treat patients with COVID-19

    Publicly released: Fri 14 Jan 2022 at 1001 AEDT, 1201 NZDT

    The BMJ

    However, the experts advise against the use of two other JAK inhibitors (ruxolitinib and tofacitinib) for patients with severe or critical covid-19 because low certainty evidence from small trials Read more about WHO recommends two new drugs to treat patients with COVID-19

    Australia; International; VICWorld Health Organization (WHO) | The Royal Melbourne Hospital

  2. Unvaccinated pregnant women may be more likely to lose their baby if they get COVID-19

    Publicly released: Fri 14 Jan 2022 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    Nature Medicine

    However, population-level data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in pregnancy and SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes are lacking. ... pregnant after, 1 March 2020, linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection data and COVID-19 Read more about Unvaccinated pregnant women may be more likely to lose their baby if they get COVID-19

    InternationalUniversity of Edinburgh Usher Institute, UK

  3. What causes long COVID symptoms? Clues from under the microscope

    Publicly released: Fri 14 Jan 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Nature Immunology

    In the Kirby institute’s specialised laboratories, the researchers analysed multiple samples from 62 Australians diagnosed with COVID-19 between April and July 2020. ... I’m glad that the study has Read more about What causes long COVID symptoms? Clues from under the microscope

    Australia; NSW; VICThe Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society ...

  4. COVID-19 restrictions may have helped kids stay out of hospital with other infections

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

    The BMJ

    During the first year or so of the COVID-19 pandemic there were dramatic reductions in hospital admissions for common and severe childhood infections in England, most likely due to social ... first year Read more about COVID-19 restrictions may have helped kids stay out of hospital with other infections

    InternationalUniversity of Oxford, UK

  5. EXPERT Q&A: Are our masks up to scratch in the Omicron era?

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

    As the Omicron COVID-19 variant takes hold in most states and territories, wearing a mask in public is one of the simplest things Australians can do to stay safe. ... But how do we make sure we're wearing Read more about EXPERT Q&A: Are our masks up to scratch in the Omicron era?

    Australia; NSWAustralian Science Media Centre

  6. Pfizer vaccine highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19 in teens

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    New England Journal of Medicine

    The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 94 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation as a result of the virus in teens, and 98 per cent effective at preventing a stint in ... The team looked at the Read more about Pfizer vaccine highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19 in teens

    InternationalCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

  7. Tracking COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness over the first 9 months

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    New England Journal of Medicine

    mRNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna protect against COVID-19 infection with 94. 5 per cent and 95. ... 3 per cent at seven months, according to US research. The team used North Carolina COVID-19 Read more about Tracking COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness over the first 9 months

    InternationalUniversity of North Carolina, USA

  8. COVID-19 jabs still provide good protection after 20 weeks

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    NEJM

    Immunity after the second COVID-19 jab seems to wane slightly after 20 weeks, especially in those over 65, according to international researchers who say the jabs still provide solid protection. Read more about COVID-19 jabs still provide good protection after 20 weeks

    InternationalImperial College London, UK

  9. Double Pfizer recipients' blood neutralises Omicron a little, but double AstraZeneca blood doesn't

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    NEJM

    A small Austrian study tested the ability of serum (blood) samples from people who had a previous COVID-19 infection and people who had received various COVID-19 vaccines to see ... The scientists have Read more about Double Pfizer recipients' blood neutralises Omicron a little, but double AstraZeneca blood doesn't

    InternationalMedical University of Innsbruck, Austria

  10. Many with 'mild' COVID-19 will require physical rehabilitation

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    While 94. 2% of people who had confirmed or probable COVID-19 were not hospitalised, they were far more likely to struggle with physical activity and household tasks after lockdown than ... Researchers Read more about Many with 'mild' COVID-19 will require physical rehabilitation

    InternationalMcMaster University, Canada

  11. Self-harm and overdose rates in young people dropped during the pandemic in Canada

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Jan 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    Canadian young people were less likely to be hospitalised for self-harm or overdose in the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic than in the two years before the ... virus hit, according to Read more about Self-harm and overdose rates in young people dropped during the pandemic in Canada

    InternationalSt Michael’s Hospital, Canada

  12. Bah Humbug! The pandemic may have turned us into penny pinchers

    Publicly released: Wed 12 Jan 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

    Royal Society Open Science

    Save your pennies - Exposure to the Covid-19 pandemic environment and generosityExperimentally-elicited donations toward an uknown cause to charity decrease during the initial explosive growth of the Read more about Bah Humbug! The pandemic may have turned us into penny pinchers

    InternationalUniversidad Loyola Andalucía, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Spain

  13. In just 6 months, COVID-19 vaccines saved 1/4 million lives in the US

    Publicly released: Wed 12 Jan 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    The roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in the US almost halved the COVID-19 death and hospitalisation rate, saving around a quarter of a million lives over the six months ... The authors estimate the vaccines Read more about In just 6 months, COVID-19 vaccines saved 1/4 million lives in the US

    InternationalYale School of Public Health, USA

  14. Kids coming to Emergency with COVID-19 have a 3% risk of severe disease

    Publicly released: Wed 12 Jan 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2–Positive Youths Tested in Emergency DepartmentsJAMA Network Open Original InvestigationAbout JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is the new online-only open access general Read more about Kids coming to Emergency with COVID-19 have a 3% risk of severe disease

    Australia; International; WAThe University of Western Australia | University of Calgary, Canada

  15. Exposure to air pollution could increase the spread of COVID-19

    Publicly released: Tue 11 Jan 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

    Occupational & Environmental Medicine

    address. Regional COVID-19 infection data and information on hospital discharge and outpatient drug prescriptions were gathered for 62,848 adults yet to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus Read more about Exposure to air pollution could increase the spread of COVID-19

    InternationalUniversity of Insubria, Italy

  16. New Zealand's MIQ system adequate for some, abysmal for others

    Publicly released: Mon 10 Jan 2022 at 1345 AEDT, 1545 NZDT

    International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

    Internet access and the quality of catering were highly variable across different facilities, and a number of participants emphasised that cultural and dietary requirements needed to be better Read more about New Zealand's MIQ system adequate for some, abysmal for others

    New ZealandUniversity of Otago | Massey University

  17. Childhood vaccination: the benefits spread beyond children

    Publicly released: Mon 10 Jan 2022 at 0400 AEDT, 0600 NZDT

    mBio

    The researchers point out that in the first 19 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the USA there were 349 deaths of children due to COVID-19 while the ... Modelling for this study was generated using Read more about Childhood vaccination: the benefits spread beyond children

    Australia; QLDGriffith University

  18. Record numbers to attend Australia’s flagship STEM Youth experience in January 2022

    Publicly released: Mon 10 Jan 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    This is the largest NYSF program on record, having flourished during the pandemic by pivoting to a COVID-safe mode where no participant is left out. ... during the pandemic by pivoting to a COVID-safe Read more about Record numbers to attend Australia’s flagship STEM Youth experience in January 2022

    Australia; WANational Youth Science Forum

  19. Convidecia, a single-dose vaccine, is 91.7% effective against severe COVID-19

    Publicly released: Fri 24 Dec 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

    The Lancet

    Writing in a linked Comment, Dr Richard Kennedy of the Mayo Clinic, USA, who was not involved in the study, says, “Despite remarkable accomplishments in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development and Read more about Convidecia, a single-dose vaccine, is 91.7% effective against severe COVID-19

    InternationalDalhousie University, Canada

  20. Oh deer! Animal-to-animal transmission could pose COVID-19 variant risk

    Publicly released: Fri 24 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Nature

    The finding that white-tailed deer are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrates the capacity for the virus to be transmitted into wildlife. ... More monitoring of wildlife is needed to understand Read more about Oh deer! Animal-to-animal transmission could pose COVID-19 variant risk

    InternationalOhio State University, USA

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