Resources for Journalists

Arthritis drugs help critical Covid patients

Publicly released: Tue 2 Mar 2021 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

NEJM

Arthritis drugs tocilizumab and sarilumab have been proven to have a significant impact on the survival of Covid-19 patients in critical care. ... Two arthritis treatments, the immunosuppressive drugs Read more about Arthritis drugs help critical Covid patients

WHO expert panel strongly advises against using hydroxychloroquine to prevent Covid-19

Publicly released: Tue 2 Mar 2021 at 1040 AEDT, 1240 NZDT

The BMJ

As such, the panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should be used to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent Covid-19. ... Foundation. It’s aim is to Read more about WHO expert panel strongly advises against using hydroxychloroquine to prevent Covid-19

Just a bit of harmless fun? Aussies unaware of issues caused by scratchies, lotteries, and bingo

Publicly released: Tue 2 Mar 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

Journal of Gambling Studies

lotteries, and bingo, despite these being in the top ten most harmful gambling products. ... Lead author Dr Leon Booth said that with Australians being some of the world’s biggest gamblers and with Read more about Just a bit of harmless fun? Aussies unaware of issues caused by scratchies, lotteries, and bingo

New insight into Great Barrier Reef habitat

Publicly released: Tue 2 Mar 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Ecology & Evolution

We’re still finding out what’s there, and how it’s connected to the coral reefs. ... To continue their exploration of the Great Barrier Reef seafloor, McNeil and colleagues have been able to secure Read more about New insight into Great Barrier Reef habitat

Using mindfulness meditation to mitigate pandemic pain

Publicly released: Mon 1 Mar 2021 at 1400 AEDT, 1600 NZDT

We are trying to get a picture of how widespread these impacts have been after the COVID-19 pandemic and how they relate to pain outcomes. ... 2020. Participants will be asked to complete a 20-minute Read more about Using mindfulness meditation to mitigate pandemic pain

For young Aussies, 4 decades of financial disadvantage only got worse during COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 1 Mar 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

Australian Journal of Social Issues

When it comes to financial stability during the COVID-19 pandemic, young people were disproportionately disadvantaged according to Aussie researchers. ... generous JobKeeper initiative, and more likely to Read more about For young Aussies, 4 decades of financial disadvantage only got worse during COVID-19

The indirect impacts of COVID on Aboriginal communities

Publicly released: Mon 1 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

MJA

The recent drought, bushfires and COVID-19 restrictions have only worsened experiences, the authors added, especially when government measures can trigger negative feelings, particularly for those Read more about The indirect impacts of COVID on Aboriginal communities

Cancer diagnoses dropped during the Melbourne lockdown

Publicly released: Mon 1 Mar 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

MJA

An estimated 2,530 cancer diagnoses were delayed or missing during the COVID-19-related restrictions in Victoria, according to Aussie researchers who used data from the Victorian Cancer Registry to Read more about Cancer diagnoses dropped during the Melbourne lockdown

Heart damage from COVID-19 likely the result of direct viral infection, not just inflammation

Publicly released: Sat 27 Feb 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

JACC: Basic to Translational Science

US scientists say heart damage associated with COVID-19 is caused by heart cells becoming infected with the virus, and not just by the body's inflammatory response to viral infection ... They used models Read more about Heart damage from COVID-19 likely the result of direct viral infection, not just inflammation

If someone in your household has COVID-19, there's a 1-in-10 chance you'll catch it too

Publicly released: Sat 27 Feb 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

1 per cent, the experts say. Adults and those with existing illnesses were most likely to catch COVID-19 from an infected household member, they add. ... Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 What The Read more about If someone in your household has COVID-19, there's a 1-in-10 chance you'll catch it too

1 hour COVID-19 test could help us return to workplaces and schools

Publicly released: Fri 26 Feb 2021 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

PLOS ONE

US scientists have developed an ultra-rapid COVID-19 test that can provide results in under an hour. ... Although less accurate than more time-consuming tests, the researchers say it is accurate enough to Read more about 1 hour COVID-19 test could help us return to workplaces and schools

Masks may have prevented 30,000 COVID-19 cases in Italy's first wave

Publicly released: Fri 26 Feb 2021 at 1001 AEDT, 1201 NZDT

Infectious Diseases

Face masks likely played a role in reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy during the first half of 2020, according to Italian researchers who used computer simulations to ... In early March 2020, Read more about Masks may have prevented 30,000 COVID-19 cases in Italy's first wave

COVID-19 toolkit to boost vaccine development and research

Publicly released: Fri 26 Feb 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

It will allow researchers to easily manipulate the coronavirus genome and permit the study of individual SARS-CoV-2 mutations or combinations of mutation, such as those found in the new ... Griffith Read more about COVID-19 toolkit to boost vaccine development and research

Disease tolerance: Our skeletons reveal humans evolved to fight pathogens throughout history

Publicly released: Fri 26 Feb 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

As Covid-19 impacts lives around the world- a new skeleton study is reconstructing ancient pandemics to assess human’s evolutionary ability to fight off leprosy, tuberculosis and treponematoses Read more about Disease tolerance: Our skeletons reveal humans evolved to fight pathogens throughout history

New Zealand listened to scientists during the pandemic

Publicly released: Thu 25 Feb 2021 at 1544 AEDT, 1744 NZDT

Nature Immunology

Some of New Zealand’s leading Covid-19 experts say we dodged the major health impacts of the virus by using scientific expertise as a basis for action. ... has avoided the major health impacts of the Read more about New Zealand listened to scientists during the pandemic

Mass vaccination with Pfizer's COVID vaccine lowers death rates, hospitalisations and disease

Publicly released: Thu 25 Feb 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

NEJM

A nationwide mass-vaccination using the Pfizer vaccine is effective for a wide range of COVID outcomes, according to international researchers who looked at almost 600,000 people vaccinated between Read more about Mass vaccination with Pfizer's COVID vaccine lowers death rates, hospitalisations and disease

A greater need for grief support due to COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 25 Feb 2021 at 0700 AEDT, 0900 NZDT

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

life. The study is the first to focus on psychological factors that explain why people bereaved by COVID-19 might experience challenges in important areas of life, work, leisure, and relationships. Read more about A greater need for grief support due to COVID-19

A simple phone call could improve mental health during COVID

Publicly released: Wed 24 Feb 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Psychiatry

During lonely COVID times, a simple empathetic phone call could help reduce loneliness, depression and anxiety, according to international researchers. ... The sweet group of researchers trained 16 people Read more about A simple phone call could improve mental health during COVID

Oxford COVID-19 vaccine more effective with a longer interval between doses

Publicly released: Tue 23 Feb 2021 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

The Lancet

loss of taste) in the control and COVID-19 vaccine groups occurring more than 14 days after the second dose. ... In addition, antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remained at similar Read more about Oxford COVID-19 vaccine more effective with a longer interval between doses

Lockdown led to less smoggy ozone

Publicly released: Tue 23 Feb 2021 at 0916 AEDT, 1116 NZDT

Geophysical Research Letters

The implications for human heath are probably a lot smaller than all the other COVID-19 implications I would think,” Steinbrecht said. ... The COVID-19 lockdowns are an unplanned global scale Read more about Lockdown led to less smoggy ozone