Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 BRIEFING: What is 'gain of function' research? 

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 1101 AEST, 1301 NZST

The debate about the origins of COVID-19 has led to some people calling for a ban on so-called 'gain of function' research. ... Gain of function' research can make a virus more infectious or more deadly, Read more about COVID-19 BRIEFING: What is 'gain of function' research? 

COVID-19 has exacerbated gender inequity in the STEM workforce across the Asia Pacific

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The impact of COVID-19 on women in the STEM workforce across the Asia-Pacific region has heightened the challenges and barriers they face in progressing their careers, according to a ... This survey Read more about COVID-19 has exacerbated gender inequity in the STEM workforce across the Asia Pacific

‘Stage 4’ tighter restrictions likely needed to control Delta outbreak in NSW

Publicly released: Mon 12 Jul 2021 at 2039 AEST, 2239 NZST

COVASIM is an agent-based COVID-19 model developed by Burnet Institute and Institute for Disease Modelling in the USA. ... It provides governments with more specific and precise data to inform their Read more about ‘Stage 4’ tighter restrictions likely needed to control Delta outbreak in NSW

Epidemiologists propose 7 revised COVID-19 alert levels for NZ

Publicly released: Mon 12 Jul 2021 at 1409 AEST, 1609 NZST

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

Public health researchers are proposing a revised version of New Zealand’s now established Covid-19 alert levels, which they say no longer reflect the current scientific understanding of the Read more about Epidemiologists propose 7 revised COVID-19 alert levels for NZ

Woman dies after contracting two COVID-19 variants at once

Publicly released: Sun 11 Jul 2021 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

A 90-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 had contracted both the Alpha variant and the Beta variant at the same time. ... This is one of the first documented cases of co-infection with two SARS-CoV-2 Read more about Woman dies after contracting two COVID-19 variants at once

Poorer people less likely to get a COVID-19 test, but more likely to get sick

Publicly released: Sat 10 Jul 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

People in poorer neighbourhoods are being tested for COVID-19 less frequently but are more likely to catch the virus and be hospitalised, according to a Swiss study. ... It is essential to continue to Read more about Poorer people less likely to get a COVID-19 test, but more likely to get sick

How genomics-informed public health action helped control Victoria's second wave

Publicly released: Sat 10 Jul 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

effort located the source of Victoria’s second COVID-19wave and demonstrated the successful control of the virus in Australia for a second time. ... In Victoria, all positive samples for SARS-CoV-2 are Read more about How genomics-informed public health action helped control Victoria's second wave

Should we start vaccinating kids against COVID-19?

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

The BMJ

International experts, including an Australian, are making the case for and against rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations to kids to stop the current spread of COVID-19. ... Should we delay covid-19 Read more about Should we start vaccinating kids against COVID-19?

Instant COVID sensor to prevent outbreaks and protect communities

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0911 AEST, 1111 NZST

RMIT University is collaborating with partners including Melbourne-based biomedical start-up Soterius on the biosensor, which can detect the presence of tiny amounts of the SARS-CoV-2 Read more about Instant COVID sensor to prevent outbreaks and protect communities

Get your booster: The Delta variant could dodge partial protection

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

The team isolated antibodies from the blood of people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, or received one dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, and tested these against ... the Delta variant, Read more about Get your booster: The Delta variant could dodge partial protection

Māori and Pacific people up to 3 times more likely to get severe Covid-19 illness

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Māori and Pacific people in New Zealand have higher risk of hospitalisation for COVID-19 Key Points Structural inequities and systemic racism in the healthcare system mean that Māori and Pacific Read more about Māori and Pacific people up to 3 times more likely to get severe Covid-19 illness

NZ loos lacking for safe handwashing in pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Researchers popped into 400 public loos in New Zealand over 6 months to see whether soap and water were on tap to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. ... Deficient hand washing amenities in public Read more about NZ loos lacking for safe handwashing in pandemic

Surveys suggest doctors and nurses worry about the NZ border

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Local GPs and nurses have expressed concern about risks at the border, and reluctance to open up more widely, in repeated brief COVID-19 surveys. ... SummaryThis paper presents a primary care perspective Read more about Surveys suggest doctors and nurses worry about the NZ border

How did poorer Kiwis cope in lockdown?

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

SummaryThis research explores the experience of 27 low-income New Zealanders during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. ... Life during lockdown was challenging for study participants who were fearful of the Read more about How did poorer Kiwis cope in lockdown?

Keep check on mental health during COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jul 2021 at 1707 AEST, 1907 NZST

International Journal of Eating Disorders

The results of the study of 225 adults in Australia and the UK found that low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy has efficacy in reducing anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 ... The checklist Read more about Keep check on mental health during COVID-19

EXPERT REACTION: The origins of COVID-19 (*preprint)

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jul 2021 at 1336 AEST, 1536 NZST

The most likely explanation for the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, is that it came from animals, according to a review of evidence led ... The paper summarises and reviews Read more about EXPERT REACTION: The origins of COVID-19 (*preprint)

Wildlife trade bans not the only option to reduce pandemic risk

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jul 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Lancet Planetary Health

Published in Lancet Planetary Health, with co-authors from the IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group and the TRAFFIC wildlife monitoring network, the research, led by Dr Duan Biggs from the Centre Read more about Wildlife trade bans not the only option to reduce pandemic risk

Flu and 'usual suspects' viruses absent during COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jul 2021 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the US. ... Striking absence of flu and other "usual suspects" during COVID-19 pandemicCases of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Read more about Flu and 'usual suspects' viruses absent during COVID-19 pandemic

How does recovery from COVID-19 compare to similar illnesses?

Publicly released: Thu 8 Jul 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The study showed those with COVID-19 took longer to return to a normal resting heart rate, normal sleep patterns and normal amounts of exercise than those with other respiratory illnesses. Read more about How does recovery from COVID-19 compare to similar illnesses?

Blood clots after AstraZeneca: How do they happen?

Publicly released: Wed 7 Jul 2021 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature

The research finds that antibodies from five individuals with VITT, who had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, bind to a protein involved in blood ... VITT is a rare Read more about Blood clots after AstraZeneca: How do they happen?