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. Breakthrough infections boost COVID-19 antibodies even if symptoms are mild

    Publicly released: Fri 17 Dec 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    JAMA

    Antibodies against COVID-19 are boosted following a breakthrough infection - infections that occur after being fully vaccinated - even though the symptoms of these infections are largely mild, Read more about Breakthrough infections boost COVID-19 antibodies even if symptoms are mild

    InternationalOregon Health & Science University, USA

  2. Saliva test for COVID-19 nearly 100% accurate in NZ

    Publicly released: Fri 17 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    SummaryThis paper presents the validation results of a qPCR test that was developed at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for non-invasively detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus in saliva Read more about Saliva test for COVID-19 nearly 100% accurate in NZ

    New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington | Rako Science Ltd, NZ; IGENZ Ltd, NZ; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US

  3. Government health spending sees 1.8% increase at the start of the pandemic

    Publicly released: Fri 17 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the Australian government increase its health spending by 1. ... care. ‘Increases in government health spending were largely driven by programs targeted Read more about Government health spending sees 1.8% increase at the start of the pandemic

    AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

  4. Make history by prioritising Māori kids for vaccine, experts say

    Publicly released: Fri 17 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    In an NZMJ editorial, child health and pandemic experts urge authorities to prioritise Māori in the vaccine roll-out to kids, since research shows they are at a higher risk of ... harm from COVID-19 Read more about Make history by prioritising Māori kids for vaccine, experts say

    New ZealandUniversity of Auckland | University of Otago | Waitematā District Health Board, Counties Manukau Health; Lakes District Health Board; Starship Children's Health; Capital and Coast District Health Board;

  5. Parents more likely to refuse COVID jab for children than adults

    Publicly released: Thu 16 Dec 2021 at 1530 AEDT, 1730 NZDT

    Vaccines

    The study also found low socioeconomic and education levels, being single, non-English speaking backgrounds and being parents were associated with decreased COVID-19 vaccine willingness and/or Read more about Parents more likely to refuse COVID jab for children than adults

    Australia; SAThe University of Adelaide

  6. Older people's bullsh*t detectors may save them from COVID-19 scams

    Publicly released: Thu 16 Dec 2021 at 1230 AEDT, 1430 NZDT

    Frontiers in Psychology

    d been exposed to COVID-19, and an announcement claiming that a new vaccine could cure the disease in hours. ... been exposed to Covid-19, and an announcement claiming that a new vaccine could cure the Read more about Older people's bullsh*t detectors may save them from COVID-19 scams

    International

  7. Novavax reports 90.4% efficacy against COVID-19 infection

    Publicly released: Thu 16 Dec 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    New England Journal of Medicine

    Over three months, 14 vaccinated participants tested positive to COVID-19 and 77 placebo participants tested positive. ... Of the COVID-19 cases that were sequenced, four in five were a variant of Read more about Novavax reports 90.4% efficacy against COVID-19 infection

    InternationalNovavax, USA

  8. Animals could become reservoirs for COVID-19

    Publicly released: Thu 16 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

    PLOS One

    of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—and related viruses in humans and animals may provide evidence of interspecies transmission worldwide. ... The authors add: “Spillover and spillback of Read more about Animals could become reservoirs for COVID-19

    Australia; VICDeakin University

  9. mRNA COVID-19 jab immunity wanes after 3 months

    Publicly released: Thu 16 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    COVID-19 immunity after Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines  begins to wane around three months after the second dose and accelerates at four months, according to a US study of veterans ... The researchers Read more about mRNA COVID-19 jab immunity wanes after 3 months

    InternationalWhite River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center, USA

  10. Mobile devices a lifeline for families during lockdowns

    Publicly released: Wed 15 Dec 2021 at 1501 AEDT, 1701 NZDT

    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

    New Curtin research has revealed a positive aspect to the COVID-19 pandemic, with families found to benefit from the extra time together during lockdowns and mobile devices proving useful for Read more about Mobile devices a lifeline for families during lockdowns

    Australia; WACurtin University | Telethon Kids Institute | Edith Cowan University

  11. NEWS BRIEFING: First Aussie data on Omicron show why boosters are key

    Publicly released: Wed 15 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

    BRIEFING RECORDING AVAILABLE In an ultrasecure lab at the Kirby Institute at UNSW, a team of researchers has been working to understand the Omicron variant and they have just released their Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: First Aussie data on Omicron show why boosters are key

    Australia; NSWThe Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society ...

  12. 2 in 5 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms

    Publicly released: Wed 15 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    5 per cent of those with confirmed COVID-19 didn’t show any symptoms. ... What The Study Did: This review and meta-analysis of 95 studies examined the percentage of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections Read more about 2 in 5 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms

    InternationalPeking University, Beijing, China

  13. Spotting the next dominant COVID-19 variant

    Publicly released: Wed 15 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Nature Communications

    New COVID-19 variants are arising all the time, but only a few will outcompete the others and become a dominant strain like Delta did, say US scientists. ... The models highlight the differences between Read more about Spotting the next dominant COVID-19 variant

    InternationalLos Alamos National Laboratory, USA

  14. EXPERT REACTION: Australia to manufacture mRNA vaccines

    Publicly released: Tue 14 Dec 2021 at 1315 AEDT, 1515 NZDT

    The Federal Government announced today that a new facility will be built in Victoria to manufacture mRNA vaccines. ... In an agreement brokered with Moderna, the facility will be able to produce COVID-19 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Australia to manufacture mRNA vaccines

    Australia; International; NSW; VIC; ACTAustralian Science Media Centre

  15. Vaccine mandates can work, but only in the right circumstance

    Publicly released: Tue 14 Dec 2021 at 1045 AEDT, 1245 NZDT

    The Lancet Public Health

    They also examined differences in effects on vaccine uptake by age group and the influence of implementing COVID-19 certification in specific types of public venues (e. ... Compared to the control Read more about Vaccine mandates can work, but only in the right circumstance

    InternationalUniversity of Oxford, UK

  16. Will you check your emails over Christmas? The out-of-hours practice that could cost you your health

    Publicly released: Tue 14 Dec 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    Since COVID-19, the digitalisation of work has really skyrocketed, blurring work boundaries, and paving the path for people to be contactable at all hours,” Dr Zadow says. ... and the Australian Read more about Will you check your emails over Christmas? The out-of-hours practice that could cost you your health

    Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia

  17. How green tourism could boost NZ’s blue economy

    Publicly released: Tue 14 Dec 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    Covid-19, integrity and ‘blue washing’ – marine ecotourism operators share their thoughts and concerns for the futureAs the nation gears up to explore their own backyard this summer, the Read more about How green tourism could boost NZ’s blue economy

    New ZealandSustainable Seas National Science Challenge | AUT University ...

  18. Aussie emergency department presentations bounce back from pandemic dip

    Publicly released: Tue 14 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    The number of people presenting to emergency departments in Australia has returned to its regular trend after a dip at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Australian ... COVID-19 Read more about Aussie emergency department presentations bounce back from pandemic dip

    AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

  19. COVID-19 immunity after a previous infection could be reduced against Omicron

    Publicly released: Mon 13 Dec 2021 at 1430 AEDT, 1630 NZDT

    Emerging Microbes & Infection

    International researchers tested the serum of 28 people who had been infected with the original strain of COVID-19 against 'in-vitro' samples of Omicron and other variants. ... The expert team of 11 Read more about COVID-19 immunity after a previous infection could be reduced against Omicron

    InternationalNational Institutes for Food and Drug Control, China

  20. New copper surface eliminates bacteria in just two minutes

    Publicly released: Mon 13 Dec 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

    Biomaterials

    The team is now looking to investigate the enhanced copper’s effectiveness against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including assessing 3D-printed samples. ... Other studies suggest copper Read more about New copper surface eliminates bacteria in just two minutes

    Australia; VICRMIT University | CSIRO

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