Resources for Journalists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Older people were more likely to do things for the good of us all during the pandemic

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

Nature Aging

Older people are more likely to do things that benefit others, such as social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and making charitable donations, according to international research. Read more about Older people were more likely to do things for the good of us all during the pandemic

EXPERT REACTION: NSW opening up for the fully vaccinated

Publicly released: Mon 11 Oct 2021 at 1703 AEDT, 1903 NZDT

Sydney has partially opened itself up to fully vaccinated individuals after NSW has reached its target of 70 per cent of the population to be double-dosed. ... Below, Australian experts respond to the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: NSW opening up for the fully vaccinated

Back to work after lockdown - how do we create COVID-safe workplaces and schools?

Publicly released: Mon 11 Oct 2021 at 1500 AEDT, 1700 NZDT

Overseas experience with the Delta variant shows that vaccines alone are not enough to control COVID-19, and that a layered plan including safe indoor air, masks, testing, tracing and work Read more about Back to work after lockdown - how do we create COVID-safe workplaces and schools?

COVID-19 positive pregnant women and their newborns could face additional health risks

Publicly released: Mon 11 Oct 2021 at 1001 AEDT, 1201 NZDT

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine

women with COVID-19, adds further weight to the argument for pregnant women to be vaccinated for the virus. ... However, There were significant differences between the COVID-19-positive and healthy Read more about COVID-19 positive pregnant women and their newborns could face additional health risks

16-year-old law could deny telehealth services for voluntary assisted dying

Publicly released: Mon 11 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia (MJA)

Dr Close said telehealth was now an integral part of health care and had expanded exponentially during the COVID pandemic in Australia. ... Uncertainty about liability under the Code has unfortunately Read more about 16-year-old law could deny telehealth services for voluntary assisted dying