Resources for Journalists

Companies in research partnerships are more innovative and resilient, so why aren't there more?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 1213 AEST, 1413 NZST

The keys to collaboration between small business and the research sector have been revealed in a major new report. ... A survey of small to medium businesses found those in collaborations with researchers Read more about Companies in research partnerships are more innovative and resilient, so why aren't there more?

How much can contact tracing stop the spread of COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 1017 AEST, 1217 NZST

PLOS One

Modelling by NZ researchers has quantified the role contact tracing plays in stopping the spread of COVID-19, based on NZ data. ... In the best-case scenario, these measures can reduce the spread of the Read more about How much can contact tracing stop the spread of COVID?

NZ midwives navigated pandemic 'often without fully knowing risk to themselves'

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0924 AEST, 1124 NZST

Women and Birth

International and national guidance for midwives practicing during the start of the pandemic was mostly focussed around people working in hospitals, creating uncertainty for most NZ midwives who work Read more about NZ midwives navigated pandemic 'often without fully knowing risk to themselves'

Veggies and fish could help ward off severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health

To explore this further, the researchers drew on the survey responses of 2884 frontline doctors and nurses with extensive exposure to SARS-CO-v2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection, Read more about Veggies and fish could help ward off severe COVID-19

Existing illnesses may make kids more vulnerable to severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

19. More than a quarter of the kids had one or more existing illnesses, and those with the severe form of COVID-19 were most likely to have type 1 diabetes, ... Children with these underlying conditions Read more about Existing illnesses may make kids more vulnerable to severe COVID-19

Bots may be spreading misinformation about masks on Facebook

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

The study looked at posts linking to the DANMASK-19 study, which found mask-wearing reduced infection risk by between 23 and 46 per cent, and not the 50 per cent ... Many of these posts made Read more about Bots may be spreading misinformation about masks on Facebook

Children must be vaccinated against COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

MJA Insight+

Valid motivations to keep children in school and the vulnerability of the older school staff and parent population to SARS-CoV-2 spread should be all the more reason for Australia ... An outbreak in a Read more about Children must be vaccinated against COVID-19

Cancer raises the risk of death from COVID-19, especially blood cancers

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Cancer

records of 4,184 hospitalized patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. ... die. Notably, however, among those hospitalized with active cancer and COVID-19, recent Read more about Cancer raises the risk of death from COVID-19, especially blood cancers

How coronavirus aerosols travel through our lungs

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Physics of Fluids

The research is backed up by a recent study of chest CT scans of COVID-19 patients showing greater infection and disease in the regions predicted by the model. ... The study, SARS CoV-2 aerosol: How far Read more about How coronavirus aerosols travel through our lungs

More severe COVID-19 symptoms in some people may be due to a missing 'front-line' defence

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

The team found that individuals at risk of severe COVID-19 have reduced levels of circulating inflammatory proteins in their blood, which ordinarily would form a 'front-line' defence against infection Read more about More severe COVID-19 symptoms in some people may be due to a missing 'front-line' defence

‘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

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

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

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

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

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

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’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

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%

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?