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. Pandemic linked to rising rates of depressive and anxiety disorders

    Publicly released: Sat 9 Oct 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    The Lancet

    Cases of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders have increased by more than 25 per cent worldwide, according to a world-first study of the impact of COVID-19 on mental ... estimated people living Read more about Pandemic linked to rising rates of depressive and anxiety disorders

    Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland

  2. EXPERT REACTION: Long COVID gains official recognition

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Oct 2021 at 1230 AEDT, 1430 NZDT

    The illness affects more than 1 in 3 people who have had Covid-19 disease, according to a recent study. ... Post COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Long COVID gains official recognition

    Australia; New ZealandScience Media Centre (New Zealand)

  3. EXPERT REACTION: ATAGI recommends booster shots for severely immunocompromised

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Oct 2021 at 1218 AEDT, 1418 NZDT

    ATAGI says an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine for this 3rd dose. ... They recommend the 3rd dose be given 2 to 6 months after the 2nd dose of vaccine. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: ATAGI recommends booster shots for severely immunocompromised

    Australia; International; NSW; VIC; QLD; SAAustralian Science Media Centre

  4. Baby boys of hungry mums may grow up to have more fat, less muscle

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    The research team says ensuring accessibility to nutritious foods is more important now than ever as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to plunge more families into poverty. ... Currently in Aotearoa, Read more about Baby boys of hungry mums may grow up to have more fat, less muscle

    New ZealandAUT University | University of Auckland | Yale University, US

  5. Half the world 'practicing medicine blind' without quality diagnosis services

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Oct 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    The Lancet

    The COVID-19 pandemic has put testing at the top of the political and global health agenda, and it must be a turning point in ensuring we prioritise diagnostics for all ... Genetic testing to identify SARS Read more about Half the world 'practicing medicine blind' without quality diagnosis services

    InternationalUniversity of Oxford, UK

  6. Young men are the group most at risk from myocarditis, especially after the second Pfizer jab

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Oct 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

    New England Journal of Medicine

    Two studies looking at cases of myocarditis following vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have confirmed that young men are at the highest risk. ... One study found there were around 2. 13 cases Read more about Young men are the group most at risk from myocarditis, especially after the second Pfizer jab

    InternationalBeilinson Hospital, Israel, Hebrew University Medical Center, Israel

  7. How much does Pfizer effectiveness decline over time?

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Oct 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

    New England Journal of Medicine

    A study estimated the effectiveness of the vaccine in people in Qatar from January to September, 2021 using reported cases of COVID-19 and severe to fatal cases. ... They found around six months after Read more about How much does Pfizer effectiveness decline over time?

    InternationalWeill Cornell Medicine, Qatar (Paper 1), Gertner Institute of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Israel (Paper 2)

  8. Pandemic stress especially high for nurses

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Oct 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    PLOS ONE

    Healthcare workers, women, and people under 50 experienced especially high levels of stress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to international researchers, who say nurses were Read more about Pandemic stress especially high for nurses

    InternationalSwinburne University of Technology | University Toulouse 3- Paul Sabatier, France

  9. What level of antibody response protects against COVID-19 death?

    Publicly released: Wed 6 Oct 2021 at 1501 AEDT, 1701 NZDT

    Journal of Internal Medicine

    The study also provided evidence of the importance of antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 - the antibodies induced by vaccination - to block the virus’ replication, the scientists say Read more about What level of antibody response protects against COVID-19 death?

    InternationalInstituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Spain, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain

  10. Can butterfly wings help detect COVID-19 faster?

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 1712 AEDT, 1912 NZDT

    Nano Letters

    Swinburne University of Technology and Australian National University researchers have discovered that butterfly wings hold the key to concentrating light for quicker and more accurate virus detection Read more about Can butterfly wings help detect COVID-19 faster?

    Australia; VIC; ACTSwinburne University of Technology | The Australian National University

  11. Aussie trial confirms convalescent plasma is 'futile' for critically ill COVID-19 patients

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

    JAMA

    A global trial, which included Australian hospitals, has confirmed that blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19, so-called convalescent plasma, does not shorten the amount of time Read more about Aussie trial confirms convalescent plasma is 'futile' for critically ill COVID-19 patients

    Australia; International; NSW; VICMonash University | Western Sydney University | Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity ...

  12. Delta may be 133% more deadly than the original COVID-19 strain

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

    Canadian Medical Association Journal

    The Delta variant of COVID-19 appears to increase the risk of death by 133 per cent compared to the original strain of the virus, and the chance of ICU admission ... The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Read more about Delta may be 133% more deadly than the original COVID-19 strain

    InternationalUniversity of Toronto, Canada

  13. 2 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 jab could keep you out of the hospital for 6 months

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    The Lancet

    4, 2020, and Aug. 8, 2021, to assess BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related hospitalization. ... A whole genome sequencing and viral lineage analysis of 8,911 PCR Read more about 2 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 jab could keep you out of the hospital for 6 months

    InternationalKaiser Permanente, USA

  14. Bone-conducting headphones could be better than grommets

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    BMJ Innovations

    The parents of 26 children diagnosed with glue ear and/or scheduled for grommet insertion in the local area during the first wave of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in the ... glue ear and its resulting Read more about Bone-conducting headphones could be better than grommets

    InternationalCambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, UK

  15. Parents of children with chronic lung conditions concerned with safety and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 0857 AEDT, 1057 NZDT

    Health Science Reports

    Parents of children with chronic lung conditions want their children to get the COVID-19 vaccine but they are concerned with the safety and side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine ... With the emergence of Read more about Parents of children with chronic lung conditions concerned with safety and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales

  16. Landmark trial eliminates pest mosquito

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

    PNAS

    The creation of our Health and Biosecurity team back in 2016 meant we were prepared for COVID-19, and that preparation is paying off across other biosecurity threats like mosquitos which ... The technique Read more about Landmark trial eliminates pest mosquito

    Australia; International; QLDCSIRO | James Cook University | QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute ...

  17. Serious heart problems from mRNA vaccines are really rare

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Internal Medicine

    4 million Americans who’d had at least one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. ... The authors say this study is unique in its ethnic diversity, and in reflecting real-world practice. Read more about Serious heart problems from mRNA vaccines are really rare

    InternationalKaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Southern California,Kaiser Permanente Orange County Medical Center, US

  18. EXPERT Q&A: Is Merck’s COVID-19 pill molnupiravir a game-changer?

    Publicly released: Tue 5 Oct 2021 at 0100 AEDT, 0300 NZDT

    The Federal government has bought 300,000 doses of Merck COVID-19 treatment drug molnupiravir, although it has not yet been approved by the TGA as a COVID-19 treatment. ... On Friday the manufacturer Read more about EXPERT Q&A: Is Merck’s COVID-19 pill molnupiravir a game-changer?

    Australia; International; VICMonash University

  19. NZ-made app for Covid wellbeing helps with stress and anxiety

    Publicly released: Mon 4 Oct 2021 at 1312 AEDT, 1512 NZDT

    Internet Interventions

    University of Auckland researchers have tested whether a wellbeing app they rapidly made at the start of the pandemic helped young people cope a little better. ... They found significant improvements in Read more about NZ-made app for Covid wellbeing helps with stress and anxiety

    New ZealandUniversity of Auckland | Counties Manukau Health; Tamaki Health; Auckland District Health Board

  20. Breakfast beers and Zoom wine: How COVID-19 changed our drinking patterns and styles

    Publicly released: Mon 4 Oct 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Drug and Alcohol Review

    COVID-19 restrictions have led to shifts in the when and why of Aussie drinking behaviour, according to Aussie research. ... But the fact that many of us shifted to being at home more, and some lost their Read more about Breakfast beers and Zoom wine: How COVID-19 changed our drinking patterns and styles

    Australia; VIC; WALa Trobe University | Curtin University | The University of Melbourne

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