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. Co-infections in young bats could underpin coronavirus emergence

    Publicly released: Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    Nature Communications

    Endemic in bat populations, most coronaviruses never infect humans. When they do, as with the SARS, COVID-19 and MERS outbreaks, they typically spill over from bats via a bridging animal ... Dr Peel and Read more about Co-infections in young bats could underpin coronavirus emergence

    Australia; NSW; QLDThe University of Sydney | Griffith University | The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

  2. Low vitamin D may increase your risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19

    Publicly released: Sat 19 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS One

    The study also explored associations between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients, as well as across different ethnic groups. ... Dr Beckmann says that while risk from COVID-19 has Read more about Low vitamin D may increase your risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19

    Australia; International; SAUniversity of South Australia | King’s College London, UK

  3. New COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows strong protection against multiple variants in mouse study

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0939 AEST, 1139 NZST

    npj Vaccines

    A promising new COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by researchers at the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney has shown strong potential to protect against both current and emerging Read more about New COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows strong protection against multiple variants in mouse study

    Australia; NSWCentenary Institute | The University of Sydney

  4. Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine were less likely to be hospitalised with the virus

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Oncology

    Because people with cancer are especially at risk of severe COVID-19, the researchers investigated how receiving a booster vaccine before 2022 or a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine between September 2022 Read more about Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine were less likely to be hospitalised with the virus

    InternationalKaiser Permanente Northern California, USA

  5. EXPERT REACTION and MEDIA BRIEFING: First babies born in the UK through mitochondrial donation

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

    New England Journal of Medicine

    There is no cure for mitochondrial disease and the only treatments available aim to manage the symptoms. ... The mitoHOPE Program would not exist were it not for the advocacy of the mito community and the Read more about EXPERT REACTION and MEDIA BRIEFING: First babies born in the UK through mitochondrial donation

    Australia; International; VICMonash University | Newcastle Fertility Centre, UK, Newcastle University, UK

  6. Telehealth works but rules need changing

    Publicly released: Wed 16 Jul 2025 at 1612 AEST, 1812 NZST

    Health & Social Care in the Community

    researchers. With its services skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth – where medical services are delivered by phone or video call – has become a mainstay of healthcare systems in Read more about Telehealth works but rules need changing

    Australia; SAFlinders University | The University of Adelaide

  7. Most high-risk mental health calls to 1737 come from women and teens

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Jul 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    The 1737 mental health helpline saw contact surges during major national events like COVID-19 lockdowns and the Christchurch mosque attacks. ... The team says this is in line with research showing women Read more about Most high-risk mental health calls to 1737 come from women and teens

    New ZealandAUT University | Whakarongorau Aotearoa | New Zealand Telehealth Services,

  8. Global vaccine stockpiles prevented more than 5.8 million cases

    Publicly released: Thu 10 Jul 2025 at 1152 AEST, 1352 NZST

    BMJ Global Health

    Routine vaccine coverage is declining due to many factors including vaccine hesitancy and funding cuts for organisations like USAID and Gavi, and in many places gaps in coverage due to ... 19 disruptions Read more about Global vaccine stockpiles prevented more than 5.8 million cases

    Australia; VICBurnet Institute | Monash University | The University of Melbourne

  9. Long COVID and chronic fatigue may share features in common

    Publicly released: Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 1646 AEST, 1846 NZST

    PNAS

    They found higher levels of oxidative stress (which damages cells) in the people with ME/CFS and long COVID than in healthy people’s cells. ... The findings suggest there are similarities between ME/CFS Read more about Long COVID and chronic fatigue may share features in common

    InternationalStanford University, USA

  10. COVID, flu & other nasties: what to expect this season and beyond

    Publicly released: Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

    Lloyd is currently co-leading a study investigating how today’s newer strains of COVID-19 compare to Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). ... What if you get COVID? A/Prof. Rhee says while Read more about COVID, flu & other nasties: what to expect this season and beyond

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales

  11. AI Chatbots might be helping to write more than 1 in 10 biomedical research papers

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jul 2025 at 1059 AEST, 1259 NZST

    Science Advances

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies employed a framework that compared excess deaths during the pandemic with pre-COVID fatalities to deduce SAR-CoV-2’s impact on mortality. ... They also examined the Read more about AI Chatbots might be helping to write more than 1 in 10 biomedical research papers

    InternationalUniversity of Tübingen, Germany

  12. Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by COVID-19 disruption

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The BMJ

    Disrupted care during the COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp increases in other causes of illness and death, particularly mental health disorders, malaria in young children, and stroke and heart disease Read more about Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by COVID-19 disruption

    InternationalZhejiang University School of Medicine, China

  13. Severe COVID-19 may accelerate cognitive decline in older people

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    COVID-19 and Cognitive Change in a Community-Based CohortAbout The Study: This cohort study of older participants found accelerated decreases in cognition among individuals hospitalized for Read more about Severe COVID-19 may accelerate cognitive decline in older people

    InternationalMayo Clinic, USA, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA

  14. Life expectancy in Australia is still far from equal

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The Lancet

    However, although there was a narrowing of the gap in life expectancy across socioeconomic groups from the late 2010s onwards, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women reversed this ... Study lead Read more about Life expectancy in Australia is still far from equal

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

  15. More Aussies were hospitalised due to their drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Publicly released: Mon 30 Jun 2025 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

    Drug and Alcohol Review

    The number of Australians who were hospitalised or died as a result of their alcohol consumption increased over the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during mid-late 2020, according to Australian research Read more about More Aussies were hospitalised due to their drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Australia; NSW; VIC; WA; TAS; ACTNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) ...

  16. NANOSPRESSO device could make personalised medicines on-demand

    Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

    Frontiers in Science

    They also cite the success of using similar nucleic acid platforms to produce, for example, mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and say that modern advancements in closed-system microfluidics Read more about NANOSPRESSO device could make personalised medicines on-demand

    InternationalUniversity Medical Center, The Netherlands

  17. New insights into seasonal shifts in sleep

    Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 1053 AEST, 1253 NZST

    Sleep

    Our findings underscore the seasonal nature of human sleep, and that it is influenced by demographics and geography. ... 5 minutes less per night from 2020 to 2023 – a decline researchers speculate Read more about New insights into seasonal shifts in sleep

    Australia; SAFlinders University

  18. COVID-19 vaccines available in 2023-2024 were still offering extra protection

    Publicly released: Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    They estimate that on top of the protection against COVID-19 most people have now from prior vaccination and getting the virus, the vaccines were 29% effective against emergency department Read more about COVID-19 vaccines available in 2023-2024 were still offering extra protection

    InternationalCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

  19. Efforts to get the world's children vaccinated have stalled over the past 15 years

    Publicly released: Wed 25 Jun 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The Lancet

    These challenges have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases and death, according to a major new analysis from the Global Read more about Efforts to get the world's children vaccinated have stalled over the past 15 years

    InternationalUniversity of Washington, USA

  20. 'It takes a village’ to address childhood anxiety and depression

    Publicly released: Tue 24 Jun 2025 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

    Children

    Research shows ‘it takes a village’ to address childhood anxiety and depressionSince the COVID-19 pandemic, levels of clinically elevated depression and anxiety symptoms in children have Read more about 'It takes a village’ to address childhood anxiety and depression

    Australia; VIC; WAMurdoch University | Federation University Australia

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