Resources for Journalists

Africa's second wave of COVID-19 was worse than the first

Publicly released: Thu 25 Mar 2021 at 1727 AEDT, 1927 NZDT

The Lancet

As of 31st December 2020, Africa had reported 2,763,421 COVID-19 cases – around 3% of the global total – and 65,602 deaths. ... between controlling the spread of COVID-19 and sustaining economies and Read more about Africa's second wave of COVID-19 was worse than the first

Loss of trees means more disease

Publicly released: Thu 25 Mar 2021 at 1333 AEDT, 1533 NZDT

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Looking globally from 1990 to 2016, researchers found that increases in outbreaks are linked to loss of forest cover, certain types of reforesting and the rise in palm oil plantations. ... diseases, like Read more about Loss of trees means more disease

Which Aussies are least likely to get a COVID-19 jab?

Publicly released: Thu 25 Mar 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Australian researchers surveyed 3,000 Aussie adults to investigate people's willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. ... The most likely to be hesitant or resistant were women, people from poorer Read more about Which Aussies are least likely to get a COVID-19 jab?

Remdesivir speeds up COVID-19 recovery

Publicly released: Thu 25 Mar 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

US scientists say the drug remdesivir speeds up COVID-19 recovery. They compared the recovery time of 342 COVID-19 patients who had been given remdesivir with around ... alone. Remdesivir and Clinical Read more about Remdesivir speeds up COVID-19 recovery

EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine efficacy questioned

Publicly released: Wed 24 Mar 2021 at 1324 AEDT, 1524 NZDT

The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has released a statement suggesting AstraZeneca may have included outdated information in the trial of its COVID-19 vaccine, Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine efficacy questioned

Australian junior sport impacted after Covid-19

Publicly released: Tue 23 Mar 2021 at 1630 AEDT, 1830 NZDT

BMC Public Health

Australian junior sport clubs face an uphill battle to survive in the wake of COVID-19 but investment in additional resources, tools and policy development will encourage community sporting clubs to Read more about Australian junior sport impacted after Covid-19

Introverts' moods improved during the pandemic while extroverts' did not

Publicly released: Tue 23 Mar 2021 at 1123 AEDT, 1323 NZDT

PLOS One

Extroverted people struggled during the early COVID-19 pandemic, while introverted people seemed to have a blast, according to US researchers who surveyed 484 uni students early in the pandemic. Read more about Introverts' moods improved during the pandemic while extroverts' did not

Bad sleep and burnout could increase your risk of a nasty COVID-19 infection

Publicly released: Tue 23 Mar 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health

the preceding year; any sleep problems; burnout from work; and workplace exposure to COVID-19 infection. ... And the sample included only cases of very mild to moderately severe COVID-19. Read more about Bad sleep and burnout could increase your risk of a nasty COVID-19 infection

Inflammatory bowel disease drug could drive new variants and make repeat COVID infection more likely

Publicly released: Tue 23 Mar 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

Gut

The authors also warn this could help drive the evolution of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the infection. ... This impaired response may boost susceptibility to recurrent COVID-19 Read more about Inflammatory bowel disease drug could drive new variants and make repeat COVID infection more likely

Kids' antibody response to COVID-19 may explain their low rate of symptoms and severe disease

Publicly released: Tue 23 Mar 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Association of Age With SARS-CoV-2 Antibody ResponseAbout JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is the new online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. ... Every article is free Read more about Kids' antibody response to COVID-19 may explain their low rate of symptoms and severe disease

BACKGROUND BRIEFING: Answering your questions on the AstraZeneca vaccine

Publicly released: Tue 23 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

The aim of this briefing is not to generate news but to provide you with information and background to assist your ongoing reporting. ... See all our supporters and read about our independence. Paul Read more about BACKGROUND BRIEFING: Answering your questions on the AstraZeneca vaccine

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on people involved in maternity care

Publicly released: Mon 22 Mar 2021 at 1600 AEDT, 1800 NZDT

MedRxiv

Lead author Dr Zoe Bradfield from Curtin School of Nursing said health services had been forced to undergo rapid changes in response to COVID-19 and the study’s findings will ... The paper, titled Read more about Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on people involved in maternity care

Political leanings more influential than pandemic severity in COVID-19 risk perception

Publicly released: Mon 22 Mar 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Journal of Risk Research

Personal values and political worldviews shape our perception of the risk of COVID-19 more than its severity - study of 6,000 UK residentsStudy taken throughout the pandemic shows those who Read more about Political leanings more influential than pandemic severity in COVID-19 risk perception

Don't rely on the seasons to help control COVID-19, WMO warns

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1230 AEDT, 1430 NZDT

Laboratory studies of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have yielded some evidence that the virus survives longer under cold, dry, and low ultraviolet radiation conditions. ... 1). Laboratory Read more about Don't rely on the seasons to help control COVID-19, WMO warns

Wine consumption patterns relatively stable under COVID

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1206 AEDT, 1406 NZDT

Both surveys were answered by 274 – split equally between men and women – Australian wine enthusiasts, fully representative in gender, age and wine consumption of the wine consuming population. Read more about Wine consumption patterns relatively stable under COVID

4 months later, around half of COVID-19 patients have lingering symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1145 AEDT, 1345 NZDT

JAMA

French researchers followed up a group of 478 COVID-19 patients four months after they'd cleared the disease and found just over half (51 per cent) reported new-onset symptoms. ... Fatigue was the most Read more about 4 months later, around half of COVID-19 patients have lingering symptoms

COVID-19 reinfections are rare, but more common in over 65s

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1128 AEDT, 1328 NZDT

The Lancet

19. The closely related coronaviruses SARS and MERS have both been shown to confer immune protection against reinfection lasting up to three years, but ongoing analysis of COVID-19 is needed Read more about COVID-19 reinfections are rare, but more common in over 65s

Vaccinating all UK adults won't be enough to stop the virus

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1103 AEDT, 1303 NZDT

The Lancet

The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Vaccination alone is unlikely to contain COVID-19 infections in the UK but gradual reopening and high vaccine uptake could minimise future waves of infectionCOVID-19 Read more about Vaccinating all UK adults won't be enough to stop the virus

Three-dimensional imaging provides valuable insight to immune responses

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

Nature Immunology

These memory cells are particularly important because they keep chronic infections and cancers in check and act rapidly if we see the virus a second time,” Ms Duckworth said. ... Understanding vaccine Read more about Three-dimensional imaging provides valuable insight to immune responses

Got kids? They may be (slightly) increasing your risk of catching COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

hospital stay during second wave, but no materially increased risk of death A study published by The BMJ today sheds light on the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and ... The researchers then analysed Read more about Got kids? They may be (slightly) increasing your risk of catching COVID-19