Resources for Journalists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COVID-19 reinfections in Australia highlight need for vaccination

Publicly released: Mon 13 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia (MJA)

PATIENTS WHO RECOVER FROM COVID-19 SHOULD STILL GET VACCINATED EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01am Monday 13 December 2021 AWARENESS of the possibility of reinfection with the COVID-19-causing ... infection]. “The Read more about COVID-19 reinfections in Australia highlight need for vaccination

2020 an unhappy year for NZ

Publicly released: Sat 11 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

They found that New Zealanders spent more time getting unhappier in 2020 than the year before, with the worst dips linked to the Australian bushfires in January, the first Covid case ... in Australia, and Read more about 2020 an unhappy year for NZ

What impact has mask-wearing had on littering around the world?

Publicly released: Fri 10 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Sustainability

Country-wide directives to wear masks, sanitise surfaces and wear gloves in response to the COVID-19 pandemic lead to an increase in these items turning up as litter, according to ... The app saw Read more about What impact has mask-wearing had on littering around the world?

Treating 'infodemics' like pandemics may be holding us back

Publicly released: Fri 10 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Cell

describe the amplification of news about the SARS outbreak that new information technologies had made possible. ... Now, following two years of COVID-19 that have continued to highlight the importance of Read more about Treating 'infodemics' like pandemics may be holding us back

Sports betting apps fuel perfect gambling storm

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 1223 AEDT, 1423 NZDT

And the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated it further. Professor Ross Gordon, from QUT’s School of Advertising, Marketing and PR, is the lead investigator of the Australian Research Council-funded Read more about Sports betting apps fuel perfect gambling storm

EXPERT REACTION: How do the vaccines hold up against Omicron?

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 1208 AEDT, 1408 NZDT

Overnight Pfizer has reported that results from preliminary studies suggest two doses of the Pfizer vaccine have a significantly reduced ability to neutralise the Omicron variant, and that three Read more about EXPERT REACTION: How do the vaccines hold up against Omicron?

Biomarker discovery makes early detection of high-risk COVID-19 patients possible

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 1026 AEDT, 1226 NZDT

European Respiratory Journal

Early marker of severe disease The research team collected samples from 30 patients across three groups: 10 patients with COVID-19, 10 with H1N1 influenza and 10 uninfected. ... Our multi-cohort follow Read more about Biomarker discovery makes early detection of high-risk COVID-19 patients possible

Pfizer booster jab 10 times more effective at stopping COVID-19 infection than no booster

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

NEJM

New research shows people who have had the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster jab are 10 times less likely to get infected, and nearly 18 times less likely to get severe ... A second study from Israel also Read more about Pfizer booster jab 10 times more effective at stopping COVID-19 infection than no booster

What can Twitter teach us about the turbulent times of Donald Trump?

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

His control was high over "fake news", but low for "Jeffrey Epstein" and "coronavirus", although the authors say he may have controlled the COVID-19 narrative using other words or phrases. Read more about What can Twitter teach us about the turbulent times of Donald Trump?

Kiwis took advantage of COVID freedoms last New Year to party hard

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Environmental Science & Technology Letters

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the impact of lockdowns and restrictions on designer drug use in 10 different countries over the 2020/21 New Year period, according to a new ... All samples were Read more about Kiwis took advantage of COVID freedoms last New Year to party hard

Seaweed could be the answer for skin and environment safe suncare products

Publicly released: Wed 8 Dec 2021 at 1313 AEDT, 1513 NZDT

Kiwi scientists are investigating if Aotearoa New Zealand’s seaweed and algae can be used in sun care products that are healthy for our skin and the environment. ... Building a blue economyBy investing Read more about Seaweed could be the answer for skin and environment safe suncare products