Resources for Journalists

US COVID-19 cases may be more than double the number reported

Publicly released: Wed 17 Mar 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

US researchers looked for COVID-19 antibodies in a sample of 61,910 people who did not think they had caught the virus, and say their findings suggest the number of ... Of the 61,910 participants, 4,094 Read more about US COVID-19 cases may be more than double the number reported

Second-wave COVID mortality dropped markedly in (most) wealthier zones

Publicly released: Wed 17 Mar 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Chaos

Mathematical analysis of COVID-19 mortality rates in the United States and Europe shows that death rates dropped considerably in the more wealthy European countries and northeastern US states. Read more about Second-wave COVID mortality dropped markedly in (most) wealthier zones

Safety signs help little penguin colony

Publicly released: Tue 16 Mar 2021 at 1425 AEDT, 1625 NZDT

Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science

Specifically, disturbances at night increased from less than 2% of the monitored nights before 2016 to more than 20% of the nights in 2017 and onwards. ... Compiling data about the penguins had been Read more about Safety signs help little penguin colony

EXPERT REACTION: Should Australia suspend use of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine?

Publicly released: Tue 16 Mar 2021 at 1145 AEDT, 1345 NZDT

Several European countries, including Germany and France, have now suspended use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine after reports of blood clots. ... For comments from experts in other countries see Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Should Australia suspend use of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine?

80% of older Australians at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 16 Mar 2021 at 0936 AEDT, 1136 NZDT

Australian Journal of General Practice

People with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer are more vulnerable to poor outcomes if they contract COVID-19 and having more than one of these conditions increases the Read more about 80% of older Australians at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19

UK variant of Covid-19 linked to higher risk of death

Publicly released: Tue 16 Mar 2021 at 0848 AEDT, 1048 NZDT

Nature

implications for the future of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and efforts to curtail it. ... Nicholas Davies and colleagues analysed a database of 2,245,263 positive SARS-CoV-2 community test results Read more about UK variant of Covid-19 linked to higher risk of death

Could a virtual Bluetooth virus help us track COVID-19 more accurately?

Publicly released: Sat 13 Mar 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Patterns

A virtual virus that spreads anonymously between our phones via Bluetooth could help provide more accurate estimates of COVID-19 infections, according to US and Aussie researchers. ... Using artificial Read more about Could a virtual Bluetooth virus help us track COVID-19 more accurately?

Sleep maximizes vaccine effectiveness

Publicly released: Fri 12 Mar 2021 at 1930 AEDT, 2130 NZDT

With the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines now underway, University of South Australia sleep experts are urging people to reprioritise their sleep, as getting regular and sufficient sleep is known Read more about Sleep maximizes vaccine effectiveness

EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca vaccine suspended in Denmark, Norway and Iceland on clot concern

Publicly released: Fri 12 Mar 2021 at 1236 AEDT, 1436 NZDT

Use of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been suspended in parts of Europe after the vaccine was associated with blood clots. ... Below, Aussie experts respond to the suspension. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca vaccine suspended in Denmark, Norway and Iceland on clot concern

At-risk workers should be vaccinated sooner in NZ

Publicly released: Fri 12 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Researchers are calling on the Ministry of Health to speed up the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines to at-risk workers in New Zealand - particularly managed isolation and quarantine facility workers Read more about At-risk workers should be vaccinated sooner in NZ

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