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. EXPERT REACTION: Origin of COVID-19 remains a mystery

    Publicly released: Thu 24 Jun 2021 at 1830 AEST, 2030 NZST

    Scientific Reports

    Scientists using computer modelling to study SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, have discovered the virus is most ideally adapted to infect human cells – rather than Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Origin of COVID-19 remains a mystery

    Australia; International; NSW; VIC; QLD; SAFlinders University | La Trobe University

  2. How common are skin reactions after Pfizer and Moderna vaccines?

    Publicly released: Thu 24 Jun 2021 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

    JAMA Dermatology

    One in 25 people who have both doses of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may have a skin reaction, according to a US study. ... And, 2. 3 per cent of people who had no reaction to the first dose Read more about How common are skin reactions after Pfizer and Moderna vaccines?

    InternationalMassachusetts General Hospital, USA

  3. A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine could reduce aged care infections by 60 per cent

    Publicly released: Thu 24 Jun 2021 at 1201 AEST, 1401 NZST

    Lancet Infectious Diseases

    Pfizer or Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine offers around 60% protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2. ... The authors say: "Single-dose vaccination with either the Astra Zeneca or the Pfizer COVID-19 Read more about A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine could reduce aged care infections by 60 per cent

    InternationalUCL Institute of Health Informatics, UK

  4. Junkfood relief in lockdown

    Publicly released: Wed 23 Jun 2021 at 1700 AEST, 1900 NZST

    Appetite

    Similar to the UK findings, of the Australian respondents, 49% reported increased snack intake during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the remaining respondents reported either reduced snack intake (25%) Read more about Junkfood relief in lockdown

    Australia; SAFlinders University

  5. Researchers identify other parts of the virus that could be targeted by COVID-19 vaccines

    Publicly released: Tue 22 Jun 2021 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

    PLOS Biology

    the SARS-CoV-2 virus. ... Although the authors did not directly profile variants of concern that have emerged since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a comparison of the original SARS-CoV-2 genome Read more about Researchers identify other parts of the virus that could be targeted by COVID-19 vaccines

    InternationalUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

  6. COVID-19 may be the gift you get at a birthday party

    Publicly released: Tue 22 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Internal Medicine

    Birthdays, and the social gatherings that go with them, have been linked to increased rates of diagnosed COVID-19 infection within households in places with high rates of COVID-19. ... Using Birthdays to Read more about COVID-19 may be the gift you get at a birthday party

    InternationalHarvard Medical School, USA

  7. Winter colds and flu have plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Publicly released: Tue 22 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Internal Medicine

    The study also found that prescriptions of antibiotics for respiratory infections from walk-in clinics dropped 79 per cent, during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The authors say the data suggests that Read more about Winter colds and flu have plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic

    InternationalUniversity of Wisconsin, USA

  8. Global standards to embed health and wellbeing into education system

    Publicly released: Mon 21 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

    The first global standards to embed health and wellbeing into the education system have been created amid a rise in mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... MCRI Professor Susan Sawyer Read more about Global standards to embed health and wellbeing into education system

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

  9. EXPERT REACTION: Getting Pfizer after AstraZeneca may result in better immune protection (preprint)

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jun 2021 at 1620 AEST, 1820 NZST

    A preprint study, which is not yet peer-reviewed, suggests that people whose second shot is the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine after a first shot of the  AstraZeneca jab may develop better ... Overnight, Canada Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Getting Pfizer after AstraZeneca may result in better immune protection (preprint)

    Australia; International; NSW; VIC; SAAustralian Science Media Centre | Hannover Medical School, Germany

  10. Good news fellas! mRNA COVID-19 vaccines don't appear to harm your swimmers

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jun 2021 at 1039 AEST, 1239 NZST

    JAMA

    COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, don't appear to negatively impact men's sperm, with a US study showing the characteristics of men's swimmers don't ... The small study of 45 men looked Read more about Good news fellas! mRNA COVID-19 vaccines don't appear to harm your swimmers

    InternationalUniversity of Miami, USA

  11. EXPERT REACTION: Can mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines be integrated into human DNA?

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jun 2021 at 1019 AEST, 1219 NZST

    Posts on social media have claimed that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine could alter a persons DNA. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Can mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines be integrated into human DNA?

    Australia; QLD; ACTAustralian Science Media Centre

  12. EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca vaccine recommended for over-60s only in Australia

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jun 2021 at 1247 AEST, 1447 NZST

    effective against COVID-19. ... Our global commitment remains to play an important role in addressing the current global health emergency posed by COVID-19 by providing our vaccine at no profit during the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca vaccine recommended for over-60s only in Australia

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WAAustralian Science Media Centre

  13. Smart diagnostics: AI tech can hear COVID in a cough

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jun 2021 at 0826 AEST, 1026 NZST

    KDD 2021

    We’ve overcome a major hurdle in the development of a reliable, easily-accessible and contactless preliminary diagnosis tool for COVID-19,” said Xue, Research Fellow in RMIT’s School Read more about Smart diagnostics: AI tech can hear COVID in a cough

    Australia; VICRMIT University

  14. ‘Unshackled’ palm-destroying beetles could soon invade Australia

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jun 2021 at 0814 AEST, 1014 NZST

    Current Research in Insect Science

    It seems that they are now unshackled from the virus in some places and could be in Australia before we know it. ” ... Similar to how scientists spot different strains of COVID-19, we are also detecting Read more about ‘Unshackled’ palm-destroying beetles could soon invade Australia

    Australia; Pacific; QLDThe University of Queensland

  15. Keeping a close eye on bat viruses

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS One

    The authors say monitoring diseases in bats is crucial, as the current COVID-19 pandemic was thought to have jumped from a bat to another animal before infecting humans. ... humans. For instance, Read more about Keeping a close eye on bat viruses

    InternationalUniversity of Zurich, Switzerland

  16. A week after the first Moderna dose, the COVID-19 infection rates start dropping

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    The first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can begin reducing infection rates after eight days, according to a US study. ... What The Study Did: This study demonstrated an association between Read more about A week after the first Moderna dose, the COVID-19 infection rates start dropping

    InternationalVA Boston Healthcare System, USA

  17. Could a hair conditioner ingredient help combat COVID-19?

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    Chem

    The main way that respiratory diseases like COVID-19 spread is from respiratory fluids emitted when an infected person speaks, sneezes, or breathes. ... These virus-containing fluids include large Read more about Could a hair conditioner ingredient help combat COVID-19?

    InternationalNorthwestern University, USA

  18. Should we give COVID-19 vaccines to the most sociable or the most at risk?

    Publicly released: Wed 16 Jun 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

    Royal Society Open Science

    A COVID-19 vaccine strategy that over time switches from prioritising high-risk older age groups to the more sociable groups of people with the highest number of contacts, may be ... the most Read more about Should we give COVID-19 vaccines to the most sociable or the most at risk?

    InternationalUniversity of Oslo, Norway, The Pennsylvania State University, USA

  19. The systems holding women in science back

    Publicly released: Wed 16 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS Biology

    after the COVID-19 pandemic served to expose inequality globally. ... thoroughly studied and documented – as is the case with citation and publication biases. Read more about The systems holding women in science back

    Australia; International; NSWThe University of New South Wales | Boston University, USA

  20. Australian scientists closer to combating long-term effects of COVID-19

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Jun 2021 at 1425 AEST, 1625 NZST

    Communications Biology

    La Trobe University researchers are the first in the world to characterise precisely how COVID-19 attacks lung tissues – an important step in preventing long-term damage. ... Using powerful beams of Read more about Australian scientists closer to combating long-term effects of COVID-19

    Australia; VICLa Trobe University

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