Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 increased women's domestic workload at the expense of their mental health

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The authors conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on parents, especially lone mothers, and influenced their mental health. ... In March 2020, childcare facilities and schools in the UK were Read more about COVID-19 increased women's domestic workload at the expense of their mental health

Three factors may help predict long COVID

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 1156 AEDT, 1356 NZDT

Nature Medicine

What do the symptoms of 'long COVID' actually look like and are there any early signs an infected person might be at risk? ... More than 4,000 people infected with the coronavirus reported their symptoms Read more about Three factors may help predict long COVID

Our trust in government, science, and each other predicts if we will follow the COVID rules

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 1103 AEDT, 1303 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 since December 2019 has posed a severe public health threat to people around the world. ... population. The authors add: “We considered individuals’ intentions to comply with Read more about Our trust in government, science, and each other predicts if we will follow the COVID rules

EXPERT REACTION: Commercial mRNA COVID-19 jabs may not contain enough mRNA

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

of the current (covid-19) pandemic, is considered to be sufficiently consistent and acceptable”. ... The BMJ asked Pfizer, Moderna, and CureVac, as well as several regulators, what percentage mRNA Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Commercial mRNA COVID-19 jabs may not contain enough mRNA

Dizziness may be a symptom of 'long COVID'

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

JACC: Case Reports

Swedish and US scientists detail the cases of three patients who suffered symptoms more than three months after catching COVID-19, including extreme fatigue, headache, nausea and dizziness. Read more about Dizziness may be a symptom of 'long COVID'

False covid news stories can even fool healthcare professionals

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS (ONE)

False news stories about covid-19 can have dangerous and even fatal consequences. ... German researchers tested students and healthcare professionals and found that they had similar success when Read more about False covid news stories can even fool healthcare professionals

Globally, 1-in-5 healthcare workers has developed depression, anxiety, PTSD during the pandemic

Publicly released: Thu 11 Mar 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

6 percent) and anxiety (28. 9 percent). These findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of health care workers. ... The authors add: “This systematic Read more about Globally, 1-in-5 healthcare workers has developed depression, anxiety, PTSD during the pandemic

Scientists have better influence on public than politicians

Publicly released: Wed 10 Mar 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

An online experiment from Italy has found that people are more likely to accept Covid-19 lockdown restrictions when advice was given by scientists compared to politicians. ... This experiment analysed Read more about Scientists have better influence on public than politicians

Learning from Covid-19, to prepare for the next pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 10 Mar 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

In the article, “How Aotearoa New Zealand rapidly revised its Covid-19 response strategy: lessons for the next pandemic plan”, published online today in the Journal of the Royal Society of Read more about Learning from Covid-19, to prepare for the next pandemic

COVID variants evolving to escape current vaccines

Publicly released: Tue 9 Mar 2021 at 1245 AEDT, 1445 NZDT

Nature

A new study has found that antibodies from recovered COVID patients and from vaccinated people are 9-12 times less able to neutralise the South African variant of the ... Monoclonal antibodies, which Read more about COVID variants evolving to escape current vaccines

As if hay fever wasn't bad enough, pollen may make us more likely to catch COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 9 Mar 2021 at 1110 AEDT, 1310 NZDT

PNAS

High concentrations of airborne pollen may be making people more susceptible to COVID-19, according to international scientists. ... They analysed data on airborne pollen and COVID-19 infection rates from Read more about As if hay fever wasn't bad enough, pollen may make us more likely to catch COVID-19

Anaphylaxis affects 0.025% of COVID-19 vaccine recipients

Publicly released: Tue 9 Mar 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

JAMA

US scientists looked at nearly 65,000 people who had been given either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and say anaphylactic shock occurred in 16 recipients, or 0. ... Milder but still Read more about Anaphylaxis affects 0.025% of COVID-19 vaccine recipients

First ever remote sinus surgical training

Publicly released: Tue 9 Mar 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

In 2020 with COVID-19 and a ban on international travel, Dr Suzuki, a prominent Japanese sinus surgeon from Hokkaido University in Sapporo, suggested the world’s first remote course. ... Sinus Read more about First ever remote sinus surgical training

Lockdown life hits women hardest

Publicly released: Tue 9 Mar 2021 at 0926 AEDT, 1126 NZDT

PNAS

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated household burdens on women - and especially mothers - according to new research. ... Gender differences in time use and happiness during COVID-19 A study of 31,141 Read more about Lockdown life hits women hardest

Face masks during exercise might be uncomfortable, but they're not unsafe

Publicly released: Mon 8 Mar 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

European Respiratory Journal

Professor Agostoni added: “COVID-19 has hit our region and our hospital so hard, with devastating effects at a personal, professional and organisational level. ... He said: “There are still gaps in Read more about Face masks during exercise might be uncomfortable, but they're not unsafe

Fast food brands used NZ's lockdown to market unhealthy nibbles

Publicly released: Mon 8 Mar 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

Frontiers in Nutrition

New research by Kiwi and Australian researchers suggests that unhealthy food and drink brands leveraged the Covid-19 lockdown to boost their marketing in New Zealand. ... Social media posts from 14 of 20 Read more about Fast food brands used NZ's lockdown to market unhealthy nibbles

New research may be key to making safe, durable COVID-19 vaccines

Publicly released: Mon 8 Mar 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

Clinical and Translational Immunology.

Vaccines work by inducing antibodies that block the interaction between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2’s Spike protein and its receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Read more about New research may be key to making safe, durable COVID-19 vaccines

Frog cakes and Fruchocs: famous foods attract valuable tourist dollars

Publicly released: Fri 5 Mar 2021 at 1400 AEDT, 1600 NZDT

Tourism Management Perspectives

amid COVID-19, where the safest and most reliable travel options are within our own State. ... With international travel on indefinite hold since the onset of COVID-19, local tourism bodies must now focus Read more about Frog cakes and Fruchocs: famous foods attract valuable tourist dollars

Ivermectin does not help those with mild COVID recover faster

Publicly released: Fri 5 Mar 2021 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

JAMA

Ivermectin, a controversial anti-parasitic drug that has been touted by some as a potential Covid-19 treatment, does not help people with mild covid-19 recover faster, according to a ... the authors say Read more about Ivermectin does not help those with mild COVID recover faster

Failing to see the wood for the trees may be preventing better cardiovascular outcomes

Publicly released: Fri 5 Mar 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

number of deaths reported from the COVID-19 pandemic to date. ... This is urgently needed, given the rising rates of chronic disease in low- and middle-income countries, to save health services and the Read more about Failing to see the wood for the trees may be preventing better cardiovascular outcomes