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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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)

  16. 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)

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

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