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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Early UK data suggests hospitalisation risk is lower for Omicron than for Delta

    Publicly released: Thu 23 Dec 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

    It includes all PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in England between 1-14 December 2021 where the variant causing infection could be identified from genetic data or via S gene ... Since the emergence of the Read more about Early UK data suggests hospitalisation risk is lower for Omicron than for Delta

    InternationalImperial College London, University of Edinburgh, UK

  10. 87% lower risk of severe COVID-19 in remdesivir trial

    Publicly released: Thu 23 Dec 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    The New England Journal of Medicine

    Remdesivir is known to help people in hospital with COVID-19 but a new study has looked at the effects on less severe cases. ... In this US trial, only two remdesivir patients (0. 7%) were hospitalised or Read more about 87% lower risk of severe COVID-19 in remdesivir trial

    InternationalBaylor University Medical Center, Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease (US)

  11. Why is COVID-19 milder in kids?

    Publicly released: Thu 23 Dec 2021 at 0819 AEDT, 1019 NZDT

    Nature

    Scientists are still figuring out how COVID-19 develops differently in children and adults. ... A team has delved into molecular variations by comparing nasal, tracheal, bronchial and blood samples from Read more about Why is COVID-19 milder in kids?

    InternationalUniversity College London, Wellcome Sanger Institute, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge, Newcastle University (UK) and Jikei University School of Medicine (Japan) and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (US)

  12. Excessive smartphone use during pandemic could be giving you FOMO

    Publicly released: Thu 23 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

    PLOS ONE

    Excessive smartphone use during the COVID-19 pandemic could be giving you the fear of missing out (FOMO), a low sense of control, and repetitive thinking, according to an international study. Read more about Excessive smartphone use during pandemic could be giving you FOMO

    InternationalRuhr-Universitat Bochum, Germany

  13. Unvaccinated up to 4 times more likely to be infected with COVID-19

    Publicly released: Thu 23 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Jama Network Open

    Carried out in May to August 2021 when Delta became dominant, this US study looked at the COVID-19 tests of over 1. ... 2 million people from the database of a nationwide pharmacy chain. Read more about Unvaccinated up to 4 times more likely to be infected with COVID-19

    InternationalCVS Health, US

  14. Post-shot side effects common - but serious reactions sparse

    Publicly released: Thu 23 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    People were more likely to experience negative effects after their second dose of a COVID-19 shot, with the Moderna vaccine, and if they were younger or female. ... This research also found a strong link Read more about Post-shot side effects common - but serious reactions sparse

    InternationalUniversity of California - San Francisco, US

  15. How important are T cells in the fight against COVID-19?

    Publicly released: Wed 22 Dec 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

    Royal Society Open Science

    hundreds of COVID-19 patients to find out the role these cells have played at preventing death and helping clear the virus. ... Can humans develop effective long-term immunity against the COVID-19 virus, Read more about How important are T cells in the fight against COVID-19?

    InternationalPeking University, China

  16. Jab may prevent severe COVID-19 complication in teens

    Publicly released: Wed 22 Dec 2021 at 1034 AEDT, 1234 NZDT

    JAMA

    Of the 33 teens admitted to all French ICUs with this complication of COVID-19 in September and October 2021, none had been fully vaccinated and 7 had received one dose. ... Most of these seven became Read more about Jab may prevent severe COVID-19 complication in teens

    InternationalHôpital Universitaire Robert-Debré, Université de Lille, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Martinique (France)

  17. Staying a step ahead: Australian scientists develop highly accurate point-of-care neutralising antibodies (NAb) test for COVID-19

    Publicly released: Tue 21 Dec 2021 at 1605 AEDT, 1805 NZDT

    EBioMedicine

    antibodies (NAb) to COVID-19 – including variants – developed by Burnet Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) scientists. ... While there are many Read more about Staying a step ahead: Australian scientists develop highly accurate point-of-care neutralising antibodies (NAb) test for COVID-19

    Australia; VICBurnet Institute

  18. EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19 cases booming as Christmas is looming

    Publicly released: Tue 21 Dec 2021 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

    With Christmas just days away, COVID-19 cases are hitting never before seen peaks across the country. ... Below Australian experts comment on the current situation and what we can do to stay safe this Read more about EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19 cases booming as Christmas is looming

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TASAustralian Science Media Centre

  19. mRNA vaccines reduced death risk by 89% at the beginning of 2021

    Publicly released: Tue 21 Dec 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    Annals of Internal Medicine

    About 2 million veterans vaccinated in the first three months of 2021, mostly male, were included in the study which tracked COVID-19 deaths and infections in the cohort until June ... The researchers Read more about mRNA vaccines reduced death risk by 89% at the beginning of 2021

    InternationalUniversity of Washington, USA

  20. Nine in 10 kids in ICU for COVID-19 had prior medical conditions

    Publicly released: Tue 21 Dec 2021 at 0733 AEDT, 0933 NZDT

    Nature Medicine

    Research in England has pinpointed what puts children and young people at risk of severe COVID-19, drawing on all hospitalisations under 18 in the first pandemic year. ... Of the 251 children and teens Read more about Nine in 10 kids in ICU for COVID-19 had prior medical conditions

    InternationalInstitute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, NHS England and Improvement, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, University of Leicester, Imperial College London, etc. (UK)

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