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. ‘Go hard, go early’ approach to COVID-19 suppression the right move

    Publicly released: Sat 5 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS ONE

    The study evaluated three scenarios from Australia’s ‘first wave’ of COVID-19 in the first half of 2020 including an early and a delayed COVID-19 suppression scenario. ... In a stark comparison Read more about ‘Go hard, go early’ approach to COVID-19 suppression the right move

    Australia; VIC; ACTThe Australian National University | The University of Melbourne

  2. Aussie smokers were less likely than Americans or the English to try and quit when COVID-19 hit

    Publicly released: Sat 5 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS ONE

    Aussie smokers' hesitancy to quit, or to even think about quitting, may be related to the low impact of COVID-19 in Australia, the authors suggest. Read more about Aussie smokers were less likely than Americans or the English to try and quit when COVID-19 hit

    Australia; New Zealand; VICThe University of Melbourne | University of Waterloo, Canada

  3. EXPERT REACTION: Delta COVID-19 variant detected in Melbourne

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jun 2021 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

    Victorian health authorities have today announced the Delta COVID-19 variant is in Melbourne. ... Seven people across two families have tested positive with the variant, with genomic sequencing so far Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Delta COVID-19 variant detected in Melbourne

    Australia; NSW; QLDAustralian Science Media Centre

  4. One-third of adults in Victoria avoid routine, urgent or emergency medical care because of COVID-19 concerns

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jun 2021 at 1004 AEST, 1204 NZST

    Respirology

    which has experienced comparatively fewer SARS-CoV-2 infection rates compared to the U. ... S. Particularly relevant in Victoria following recent SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated lockdown, the results Read more about One-third of adults in Victoria avoid routine, urgent or emergency medical care because of COVID-19 concerns

    Australia; VICMonash University

  5. All the world’s COVID-19 viruses may have a collective mass of 10kg

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jun 2021 at 0814 AEST, 1014 NZST

    PNAS

    When a person is infected with SARS-CoV-2, there may be anywhere from one billion to 100 billion virus particles present during peak infection, according to new estimates by Israeli ... A study estimates Read more about All the world’s COVID-19 viruses may have a collective mass of 10kg

    InternationalWeizmann Institute of Science, Israel; California Institute of Technology, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, USA

  6. Robot noses could sniff out COVID-19 in real time

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS One

    A robot designed to smell COVID-19 on people could help quickly identify the virus. ... 503 people driving through a COVID-19 testing facility allowed researchers to take a sample of air from their Read more about Robot noses could sniff out COVID-19 in real time

    InternationalWeizmann Institute of Science, Israel

  7. Measures limiting spread of COVID-19 led to decrease in kids being hospitalised for infections

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

    International Journal of Epidemiology

    Public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 led to a substantial decrease in children being hospitalised for infections last year, a new study has found, and continuing these ... hygiene and Read more about Measures limiting spread of COVID-19 led to decrease in kids being hospitalised for infections

    Australia; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) | The University of Melbourne

  8. Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for the UN World Food Safety Day

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 1707 AEST, 1907 NZST

    This year’s theme, ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’, stresses that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet and the Read more about Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for the UN World Food Safety Day

    Australia; ACTFood Safety Information Council

  9. COVID-19 lockdowns cut urban crime by 37%

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

    Nature Human Behaviour

    Stay-at-home policies - implemented globally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - were associated with a 37 per cent reduction in crime, on average, in 27 cities across 23 countries, ... The Read more about COVID-19 lockdowns cut urban crime by 37%

    Australia; New Zealand; International; QLDThe University of Queensland | Utrecht University, the Netherlands

  10. EXPERT REACTION: What do we know about Victoria's COVID-19 variant?

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

    Victorian health officials are concerned the COVID-19 variant spreading in Melbourne is being passed on during 'fleeting contact' between strangers. ... Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng told Read more about EXPERT REACTION: What do we know about Victoria's COVID-19 variant?

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

  11. Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

    BioRxiv (pre-print journal)

    A needle-free COVID-19 vaccination could be possible, with University of Queensland scientists successfully protecting mice from the virus by administering a US-developed vaccine candidate with a Read more about Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

    Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland

  12. Funding questioned for papers suggesting smoking reduced COVID-19 risk

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The BMJ

    The foundation has invested heavily in the covid-19/nicotine hypothesis, say Horel and Keyzer. ... In June 2020 it set aside €900,000 for research “to better understand the associations between Read more about Funding questioned for papers suggesting smoking reduced COVID-19 risk

    InternationalThe BMJ

  13. Fewer Aussies used hospitals during the early months of pandemic

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

    8% between 2018–19 and 2019–20. ‘The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on activity in Australian hospitals. ... Of the 2,600 hospitalisations for people with COVID-19, 225 (8. 6%) required a Read more about Fewer Aussies used hospitals during the early months of pandemic

    AustraliaAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

  14. How many vaccinations does it take to stop COVID-19 restrictions?

    Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

    Royal Society Open Science

    Vaccinating 40 per cent of a major city population could have the same effectiveness as COVID-19 restrictions in reducing the spread of the virus, according to Mexican researchers. ... If 30 per cent of Read more about How many vaccinations does it take to stop COVID-19 restrictions?

    InternationalUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México

  15. Men's stress goes down in lockdown, but women's goes up

    Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

    Journal of the Royal Society Interface

    Differential effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on well-being: interaction between age, gender and chronotypeWe analyzed highly detailed data on 169 participants for 2-6 months, before and during the Read more about Men's stress goes down in lockdown, but women's goes up

    InternationalTel-Aviv University, Israel

  16. Genetic study suggests vitamin D does not help prevent COVID-19

    Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS Medicine

    Genetic evidence suggests vitamin D does not provide protection from COVID-19; the strongest evidence yet that vitamin D can't help against the virus, according to international researchers. Read more about Genetic study suggests vitamin D does not help prevent COVID-19

    InternationalMcGill University, Canada

  17. EXPERT REACTION: Mission to map Australia’s undiscovered biodiversity predicted to bring big economic benefits

    Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    The mission is also expected to:reduce green tape by providing more certainty to the resources sector;help protect Australia’s agriculture and the environment from imported pests and diseases by Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Mission to map Australia’s undiscovered biodiversity predicted to bring big economic benefits

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; ACTAustralian Academy of Science

  18. May cause side effects: how social media could be affecting COVID vaccine hesitancy

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jun 2021 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

    A social media campaign could help to advertise the positives of COVID-19 vaccination and counter the negative posts and comments which are putting Australia’s vaccination program at risk, a Read more about May cause side effects: how social media could be affecting COVID vaccine hesitancy

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales

  19. Where might the next pandemic emerge?

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jun 2021 at 0908 AEST, 1108 NZST

    Nature Food

    5 million km2) allowed the authors to identify hotspots at risk of potential SARS-related coronavirus outbreaks in the future. ... Understanding the circumstances under which coronaviruses can jump from Read more about Where might the next pandemic emerge?

    New Zealand; InternationalMassey University

  20. Australia's COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the community service sector

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jun 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

    The Australian Journal Of Social Issues

    While the health impacts of COVID-19 were far less than expected in Australia, the community service sector was on the front line for those seeing financial and mental health impacts. ... Aussie Read more about Australia's COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the community service sector

    Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia

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