Resources for Journalists

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

10 lessons from the virus crisis - and why some countries struggled

Publicly released: Mon 22 Feb 2021 at 1330 AEDT, 1530 NZDT

The BMJ

critical system components,” the 15 authors say in the new article published in a special British Medical Journal analysis series ‘COVID-19: The Road to Equity and Solidarity’The 10 variables Read more about 10 lessons from the virus crisis - and why some countries struggled

Has lockdown driven tinnitus sufferers to despair?

Publicly released: Mon 22 Feb 2021 at 1045 AEDT, 1245 NZDT

analysis of tinnitus – involving brain stimulation trials to manage the condition and examining whether tinnitus suffers fared worse during COVID-19 lockdowns. ... tinnitus sufferers during COVID-19, Read more about Has lockdown driven tinnitus sufferers to despair?

EXPERT REACTION: Vaccine program kicks off in Australia

Publicly released: Mon 22 Feb 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

Australia's vaccine program kicks off in earnest today with a phased program that begins with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the most vulnerable people in the community. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Vaccine program kicks off in Australia

Humble pie: soul food for the best leaders

Publicly released: Mon 22 Feb 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Human Relations

It’s an interesting finding – especially given that leaders are more commonly aligned with characteristics of confidence, charisma, and influence – but in a post-COVID era where remote work is Read more about Humble pie: soul food for the best leaders

COVID-19 symptoms can linger for 9 months after recovery, even with mild disease

Publicly released: Sat 20 Feb 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

The findings suggest that the health consequences of COVID-19 extend far beyond acute infection, even among those with mild illness, the experts say. ... Symptoms Months After COVID-19 What The Study Did: Read more about COVID-19 symptoms can linger for 9 months after recovery, even with mild disease

What happens to immunity levels post COVID-19 infection?

Publicly released: Fri 19 Feb 2021 at 2100 AEDT, 2300 NZDT

Nature Communications

The spike protein enables SARS-CoV-2 to attach and enter cells in humans and is crucial in inducing neutralising antibodies to protect from re-infection. ... In addition, what remains to be understood is Read more about What happens to immunity levels post COVID-19 infection?

EXPERT REACTION: Seven minutes of terror – NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars

Publicly released: Fri 19 Feb 2021 at 0830 AEDT, 1030 NZDT

NASA’s Perseverance rover has survived ‘seven minutes of terror’ and successfully landed on Mars. ... Perseverance joins the Curiosity rover on the red planet’s surface, and its primary mission Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Seven minutes of terror – NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars