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. Factors that may predict next pandemic

    Publicly released: Tue 30 Mar 2021 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

    Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

    A country’s land area, human population density, and area of forest are associated with zoonotic diseases, like COVID-19. ... Human development index, average annual temperature, and health expenditure Read more about Factors that may predict next pandemic

    Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney

  2. Strays pick up Covid-19 in Brazil

    Publicly released: Tue 30 Mar 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

    PLOS One

    A stray cat and dog in Brazil are likely to have had Covid-19 earlier in the pandemic, scientists say. ... The researchers tested 96 stray and domestic cats and dogs across the country, finding just two Read more about Strays pick up Covid-19 in Brazil

    InternationalInstituto Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil

  3. COVID-19 vaccines based on new variants may also protect against original strains

    Publicly released: Tue 30 Mar 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

    Nature

    Alex Sigal and colleagues compare the neutralizing activity of convalescent plasma from individuals with COVID-19 on SARS-CoV-2 variants from the first and the current (second) wave of the Read more about COVID-19 vaccines based on new variants may also protect against original strains

    InternationalAfrica Health Research Institute, South Africa

  4. How face masks hinder communication

    Publicly released: Mon 29 Mar 2021 at 1700 AEDT, 1900 NZDT

    Scientific Reports

    Face masks are essential for health professionals and others to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, however, mask-wearing has a significant impact on communication. ... The authors declare no Read more about How face masks hinder communication

    Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney

  5. New ICU monitoring tool CHRIS saved lives in Victoria’s COVID-19 2nd wave

    Publicly released: Mon 29 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    MJA

    A national tool for monitoring and sharing intensive care unit capacity was a vital component of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria and has the potential to augment ... to the COVID-19 Read more about New ICU monitoring tool CHRIS saved lives in Victoria’s COVID-19 2nd wave

    Australia; VIC; ACTAlfred Health, Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society, Australian Government Department of Health, Ambulance Victoria

  6. Very few rapid COVID-19 tests are up to standard, especially for those without symptoms

    Publicly released: Fri 26 Mar 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

    decision-making, publishes an updated systematic review assessing rapid tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). ... During the COVID-19 pandemic, swift diagnosis of people who are Read more about Very few rapid COVID-19 tests are up to standard, especially for those without symptoms

    InternationalUniversity of Birmingham, UK

  7. Lockdown stunted a bunch of other viruses too

    Publicly released: Fri 26 Mar 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

    Journal of Medical Virology

    been ‘severely curtailed’ by Covid-19 restrictions. ... They first saw the effect in Australia and New Zealand, but are now seeing a similar effect in the UK and Europe. Read more about Lockdown stunted a bunch of other viruses too

    Australia; New Zealand; International; VIC; QLD; WAThe University of Queensland | Canterbury Health Laboratories, Children’s Heath Queensland, Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza

  8. Discovery of a third T cell lineage

    Publicly released: Fri 26 Mar 2021 at 0911 AEDT, 1111 NZDT

    Science

    combat cancer and viral infections such as COVID-19. ... Molecular Imaging, and funding from the US National Science Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health and the Australian Research Council. Read more about Discovery of a third T cell lineage

    Australia; VICMonash University

  9. Coronavirus spread earlier than thought in New Zealand

    Publicly released: Fri 26 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    The earliest known cluster of COVID-19 infection in New Zealand has been reported, after researchers found that the coronavirus was transmitting locally - undetected - back in February 2020. Read more about Coronavirus spread earlier than thought in New Zealand

    New ZealandWaikato District Health Board

  10. Low levels of QR code scanning in Dunedin

    Publicly released: Fri 26 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    Key PointsThe speed with which contacts of newly diagnosed community cases of COVID-19 are identified, tested and quarantined/isolated is a critical determinant of how effective contact tracing is in Read more about Low levels of QR code scanning in Dunedin

    New ZealandUniversity of Otago

  11. 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

    InternationalAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia

  12. 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

    InternationalCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France, and Kasetsart University, Thailand

  13. 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?

    Australia; ACTThe Australian National University

  14. 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

    InternationalJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

  15. 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

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLDAustralian Science Media Centre

  16. 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

    Australia; SAFlinders University

  17. 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

    InternationalUniversity of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, USA

  18. 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

    InternationalJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA

  19. 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

    InternationalRoyal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, UK

  20. 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

    InternationalWeill Cornell Medicine, USA

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