Resources for Journalists

EXPERT Q&A: The Mu variant and future of 'endemic' COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 9 Sep 2021 at 0930 AEST, 1130 NZST

The world has a new COVID-19 variant of interest, with the WHO recently reclassifying the Mu variant after an uptick in cases in South America. ... Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam, a virologist from Monash Read more about EXPERT Q&A: The Mu variant and future of 'endemic' COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines could help keep you out of the emergency department

Publicly released: Thu 9 Sep 2021 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

The study looked at more than 60,000 ED visits or hospital admissions and estimated vaccine effectiveness by comparing the odds of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection among ... They found the mRNA Read more about COVID-19 vaccines could help keep you out of the emergency department

People stopped posting about climate change when Covid arrived

Publicly released: Thu 9 Sep 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a dramatic fall in social media chatter about climate change, new research shows. ... Looking at Facebook link shares in the US, the researchers saw an 80% drop in climate Read more about People stopped posting about climate change when Covid arrived

Nationwide surveys suggest COVID-19 has increased domestic and family violence in Australia

Publicly released: Thu 9 Sep 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Australian scientists surveyed 362 participants from 253 agencies in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector across Australia to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic has made DFV worse. Read more about Nationwide surveys suggest COVID-19 has increased domestic and family violence in Australia

Need a hug? Social distancing could increase anxiety from a lack of intimate touch

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

We conducted an online-study during the first lockdown period to examine touch experiences during COVID-19, their impact on mental health and craving touch. ... Results highlight that intimate touch Read more about Need a hug? Social distancing could increase anxiety from a lack of intimate touch

Quarantine works best at low case numbers

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Aggressive quarantine works best to stop the spread of COVID-19 when case numbers are low, while populations with a higher base rate of infection should rely more on social distancing ... The economic Read more about Quarantine works best at low case numbers

Overweight kids with asthma may not respond to steroid treatment

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress

study in Germany, 2009-2014, and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in England, 1991-1992. ... as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, lung cancer, pollution, and smoking. Read more about Overweight kids with asthma may not respond to steroid treatment

UniSA digs deep to prevent construction worker suicides

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0630 AEST, 0830 NZST

Supported by the industry body MATES in Construction and the Alison Milner Memorial Scholarship, the research will identify interventions that could help reduce devastating outcomes. ... Australian Read more about UniSA digs deep to prevent construction worker suicides

Making the tough decisions: what it will mean to live with COVID

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

Public Health Research & Practice

The virus is in the community, the COVID-19 transition has begun, and we are on track to live with the virus, but control the disease, from the first quarter of ... While the Australian Institute of Read more about Making the tough decisions: what it will mean to live with COVID

COVID-19 gives hearts a hard time and some people may be more at risk

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

Aussie researchers have conducted a review of current evidence for the effects of acute and long-term heart disease for patients with COVID-19. ... The risk of more severe infection and death from Read more about COVID-19 gives hearts a hard time and some people may be more at risk

As the Alpha variant took hold in Israel, COVID-19 spread from young kids doubled

Publicly released: Wed 8 Sep 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The authors say the higher levels of spread in kids during December 2020 to February 2021 occurred despite the mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign in adults. ... They say this highlights the importance of Read more about As the Alpha variant took hold in Israel, COVID-19 spread from young kids doubled

Next gen 3D printed catalysts to propel hypersonic flight

Publicly released: Tue 7 Sep 2021 at 2200 AEST, Wed 8 Sep 21 at 0000 NZST

Chemical Communications

Developed by researchers at RMIT University, the highly versatile catalysts are cost-effective to make and simple to scale. ... respiratory viruses like COVID-19. Read more about Next gen 3D printed catalysts to propel hypersonic flight

EXPERT REACTION: Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 7 Sep 2021 at 1600 AEST, 1800 NZST

The use of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 looks set to ramp up in Australia with Health Minister Greg Hunt suggesting rapid home testing kits could be approved “within the ... The supply of home Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19

Modelling NZ's Delta outbreak

Publicly released: Tue 7 Sep 2021 at 1201 AEST, 1401 NZST

On 17 August 2021 a case of COVID-19 was identified in Auckland, ending an extended period with no community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Aotearoa New Zealand. ... This was subsequently confirmed to be Read more about Modelling NZ's Delta outbreak

Delta is 8 times less sensitive to vaccine antibodies than the original Wuhan strain

Publicly released: Tue 7 Sep 2021 at 0931 AEST, 1131 NZST

Nature

First identified in the Indian state of Maharashtra in late 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has since spread throughout India and to over 90 countries worldwide, rapidly outcompeting ... 1. 1. 7 (Alpha) Read more about Delta is 8 times less sensitive to vaccine antibodies than the original Wuhan strain

Lung function in children, adolescents, and young adults after COVID-19 infection

Publicly released: Tue 7 Sep 2021 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

European Respiratory Society International Congress

2] Dr Mogensen said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about if and how the lung is affected after clearance of the coronavirus infection, especially in young people from the ... Nineteen Read more about Lung function in children, adolescents, and young adults after COVID-19 infection

Covid-19 awareness may reduce demand for wildlife products in Asia

Publicly released: Tue 7 Sep 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Ecology & Evolution

A survey of 5000 people in East and Southeast Asia found that people with a high self-reported awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic were up to a quarter less likely ... Robin Naidoo and colleagues conducted Read more about Covid-19 awareness may reduce demand for wildlife products in Asia

Over 200 journals put out simultaneous call for climate action

Publicly released: Mon 6 Sep 2021 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

MJA

5°C above the pre-industrial average and the continued loss of biodiversity risk catastrophic harm to health that will be impossible to reverse,” the authors wrote. ... Despite the world’s necessary Read more about Over 200 journals put out simultaneous call for climate action

Jump in the number of Americans willing to get a COVID-19 jab, but hesitancy remains for some

Publicly released: Mon 6 Sep 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Annals of Medicine

Highlighting vaccines as important for resuming work, school, and social activities is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 incidence and bringing an end to the pandemic,” she said. Read more about Jump in the number of Americans willing to get a COVID-19 jab, but hesitancy remains for some

Blue-tongue vs red-bellied black: An Australian evolutionary arms race

Publicly released: Mon 6 Sep 2021 at 0905 AEST, 1105 NZST

Toxins

Much like how a COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t mean you don’t get sick at all, it just means you are less likely to die. ” ... You’d think that a goanna would be significantly resistant to the venom of Read more about Blue-tongue vs red-bellied black: An Australian evolutionary arms race