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. Data informing the return of students to classrooms and measures to keep schools COVID safe

    Publicly released: Thu 21 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    The majority of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools ECEC centres occurred when attendance was restricted, suggesting cases in these settings may have been driven by essential workers and unvaccinated adults Read more about Data informing the return of students to classrooms and measures to keep schools COVID safe

    Australia; International; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)

  2. Even mild COVID-19 symptoms are more common for those who are overweight

    Publicly released: Wed 20 Oct 2021 at 1501 AEDT, 1701 NZDT

    Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

    The study included 522 adults and children who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 as outpatients. ... The data underscore the need to ensure COVID-19 vaccination of individuals with overweight and obesity,” Read more about Even mild COVID-19 symptoms are more common for those who are overweight

    InternationalChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles, USA

  3. Could some people be genetically resistant to COVID-19?

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    Nature Immunology

    Some people may be born with resistance to COVID-19 and understanding the genes involved could help us better understand COVID-19 infections and could help us develop drugs to prevent ... to SARS-CoV-2, Read more about Could some people be genetically resistant to COVID-19?

    Australia; International; VICThe University of Melbourne | Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Greece

  4. Cell fitness used to determine outcomes in COVID-19 patients

    Publicly released: Mon 18 Oct 2021 at 2100 AEDT, 2300 NZDT

    EMBO Molecular Medicine

    pandemic. UQ Diamantina Institute’s Dr Arutha Kulasinghe said researchers conducted post-mortem analysis on COVID-infected lung tissues and found that the cell fitness marker influenced a Read more about Cell fitness used to determine outcomes in COVID-19 patients

    Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland

  5. Online Art of Science exhibit brings together Melbourne’s best

    Publicly released: Mon 18 Oct 2021 at 1543 AEDT, 1743 NZDT

    Seasons?”WEHI Director and 2020 Melbournian of the Year Professor Doug Hilton AO said that working with Lisa Gorman and the MSO aligned the best of Melbourne: biomedical research, fashion and Read more about Online Art of Science exhibit brings together Melbourne’s best

    Australia; VICWEHI

  6. Study backs expansion of footpaths and outdoor dining for Melbourne

    Publicly released: Mon 18 Oct 2021 at 1302 AEDT, 1502 NZDT

    They returned to some locations in March and April 2021 – during relaxed COVID restrictions – and found the overall conclusions were the same: street space for pedestrians was undersupplied and Read more about Study backs expansion of footpaths and outdoor dining for Melbourne

    Australia; VICRMIT University | Monash University

  7. COVID-19 surges likely after border opens even at 80 per cent vaccinated

    Publicly released: Mon 18 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    MJA

    COVID SURGES LIKELY AFTER BORDER OPENS EVEN AT 80% VACCINATED: MODELLINGMODELLING shows opening the international borders while there is still highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the Read more about COVID-19 surges likely after border opens even at 80 per cent vaccinated

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales | The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society

  8. First Aussie case of rare inflammatory syndrome following COVID-19 infection

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Oct 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

    Medical Journal of Australia

    The 42-year-old unvaccinated woman experienced fevers, muscle aches and pains, light-headedness, abdominal pain, nausea, heart palpitations and chest pain, 27 days after contacting COVID-19. Read more about First Aussie case of rare inflammatory syndrome following COVID-19 infection

    Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney | Nepean Hospital

  9. How to program DNA robots to poke and prod cell membranes

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Oct 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

    Nucleic Acids Research

    UNSW’s Dr Matthew Baker and the University of Sydney’s Dr Shelley Wickham co-led the study, published recently in Nucleic Acids Research. ... Liposome nanotechnology has shot into prominence with the Read more about How to program DNA robots to poke and prod cell membranes

    Australia; InternationalThe University of New South Wales | The University of Sydney

  10. Australians washing and sanitising their hands 15% less than this time last year

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Oct 2021 at 1500 AEDT, 1700 NZDT

    In the survey Omnipoll asked how often people washed their hands and used hand sanitiser on the previous day. ... People over 50 were less likely to use sanitiser, possibly because they were less likely Read more about Australians washing and sanitising their hands 15% less than this time last year

    AustraliaFood Safety Information Council

  11. High BMI linked to longer ICU stays and death for Covid-19 patients

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Oct 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    PLOS One

    test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, were all over the age of 18, and had current weight and height data available. ... 02 [1. 39-2. 94] versus normal weight). The authors Read more about High BMI linked to longer ICU stays and death for Covid-19 patients

    InternationalUniversity of Gothenburg, Sweden; Hallands Hospital Halmstad, Sweden; Örebro University, Sweden; Linköping University, Sweden; Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden

  12. Just two minutes of COVID-19 'doomscrolling' can bring you down

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Oct 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    PLOS One

    Researchers wanted to test the emotional impact of Covid-related news, given that bad news has been ubiquitous during the pandemic. ... However, consuming stories about Covid-related acts of kindness did Read more about Just two minutes of COVID-19 'doomscrolling' can bring you down

    InternationalUniversity of Essex, UK; Simon Fraser University, Canada

  13. EXPERT REACTION: Pandemic levels of abuse directed at COVID-19 experts

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    Nature

    Scientists are facing pandemic levels of abuse for simply trying to help us all wrap our heads around COVID-19," said Lyndal Byford the Director of News and Partnerships at the ... The trolling of Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Pandemic levels of abuse directed at COVID-19 experts

    Australia; New Zealand; International; NSW; VIC; WA; ACTAustralian Science Media Centre | Science Media Centre (New Zealand)

  14. Healthcare systems in low and middle income countries must address long COVID

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    Long term health impacts from survivors of COVID-19, often referred to as long COVID, must be factored into existing healthcare systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, according to Read more about Healthcare systems in low and middle income countries must address long COVID

    Australia; VICDeakin University | Australian Catholic University, Penn State College of Medicine, USA

  15. Staff shortages could halve Australia's ICU surge capacity

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Oct 2021 at 1600 AEDT, 1800 NZDT

    Medical Journal of Australia (MJA)

    As early as April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with substantial psychological distress, including anxiety and burnout, among Australian health care workers. ... mja. com. Read more about Staff shortages could halve Australia's ICU surge capacity

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; NTThe University of Western Australia

  16. Re-opened US schools linked to increased growth of Covid-19 cases

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Oct 2021 at 0943 AEDT, 1143 NZDT

    PNAS

    A study finds that reopening schools with in-person learning in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased case and death rates from the disease, particularly Read more about Re-opened US schools linked to increased growth of Covid-19 cases

    InternationalUniversity of British Columbia, Canada; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US

  17. Primary schools can significantly contribute to COVID-19 spread

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    The researchers say the majority of COVID-19 cases were a result of transmissions at the school, and most household transmissions began with a member of the household catching COVID-19 ... What The Study Read more about Primary schools can significantly contribute to COVID-19 spread

    InternationalLiège University Hospital, Belgium

  18. This laser is supposed to rejuvenate vaginal tissue. But it may be no better than a placebo

    Publicly released: Wed 13 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA

    from a placebo treatment – and surprisingly, it found there was no difference between the two. ... The team hope to see the results in a year’s time, depending on COVID-19 interruptions. Read more about This laser is supposed to rejuvenate vaginal tissue. But it may be no better than a placebo

    Australia; International; NSWThe University of New South Wales | Monash University

  19. Ada Lovelace Day to highlight impact of COVID-19 on vital research

    Publicly released: Tue 12 Oct 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ... by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about Ada Lovelace Day to highlight impact of COVID-19 on vital research

    VICVictorian Government | RMIT University | The University of Melbourne ...

  20. If you're vaccinated, your unvaccinated family members are less likely to get COVID-19

    Publicly released: Tue 12 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Internal Medicine

    The more people in a household are vaccinated or have immunity to COVID-19 from a previous infection, the less likely it is unvaccinated members of the household will become infected, ... The study Read more about If you're vaccinated, your unvaccinated family members are less likely to get COVID-19

    InternationalUmeå University, Sweden

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