Resources for Journalists

Should politicians be prosecuted for mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic?

Publicly released: Thu 4 Feb 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

The BMJ

In an editorial, a  physician and executive editor of medical journal The BMJ argues that politicians should be held accountable and prosecuted for botched responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about Should politicians be prosecuted for mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic?

Story of COVID’s mental health impact – a thread

Publicly released: Thu 4 Feb 2021 at 0830 AEDT, 1030 NZDT

IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems

Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the University of Essex, UK, developed their novel classification model to tease out the psychological impact of COVID-19 outbreaks and Read more about Story of COVID’s mental health impact – a thread

Covid-19 jabs for the most vulnerable

Publicly released: Thu 4 Feb 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

Science Translational Medicine

Our goal was to review the status of the COVID-19 vaccine field as it relates to vulnerable populations and regions around the world,” says Dr Priddy. ... The review also outlines both the strengths and Read more about Covid-19 jabs for the most vulnerable

People are more likely to share Dr Fauci's COVID-19 health messages than Kim Kardashian's

Publicly released: Thu 4 Feb 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

However, relatively few studies have examined the impact of spokesperson identity on the effectiveness of health messages, especially during crises like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. ... COVID-19), Kim Read more about People are more likely to share Dr Fauci's COVID-19 health messages than Kim Kardashian's

30-year-old advice on Māori inequity remains unheeded

Publicly released: Thu 4 Feb 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

to restructure our country in the wake of Covid-19. ... COVID-19 brought to life what Puao-Te-Ata-Tu so clearly articulated. Read more about 30-year-old advice on Māori inequity remains unheeded

EXPERT REACTION: Bushfires across the Perth Hills

Publicly released: Wed 3 Feb 2021 at 1610 AEDT, 1810 NZDT

Bushfires continue to burn in the Perth Hills, with more than 9,400 hectares burned and 71 homes destroyed so far. ... Hundreds of people have spent the night in evacuation centres and conditions are Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Bushfires across the Perth Hills

EXPERT REACTION: Russian trial suggests SPUTNIK V vaccine shows 91.6% efficacy

Publicly released: Wed 3 Feb 2021 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

The Lancet

been modified to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. ... and further research is needed to understand the efficacy of the vaccine on asymptomatic COVID-19, and transmission. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Russian trial suggests SPUTNIK V vaccine shows 91.6% efficacy

Dual treatments help PTSD and depression

Publicly released: Wed 3 Feb 2021 at 1157 AEDT, 1357 NZDT

Journal of Anxiety Disorders

Reducing the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression - an urgent concern in the era of COVID-19 lockdown and isolation traumas – may benefit from dual treatments rather than Read more about Dual treatments help PTSD and depression

Trial gives hope for better control of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks

Publicly released: Wed 3 Feb 2021 at 1148 AEDT, 1348 NZDT

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

While the world’s attention and resources have been focussed on combatting COVID-19 this past year, it’s important that the hundreds of millions of people who are infected annually ... with a Read more about Trial gives hope for better control of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks

Social interactions after isolation may counteract cravings

Publicly released: Wed 3 Feb 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation was already increasing in Australia, with almost a quarter of Australians reporting feelings of loneliness or social isolation. ... The researcher said Read more about Social interactions after isolation may counteract cravings

Recycling face masks into roads to tackle COVID-generated waste

Publicly released: Tue 2 Feb 2021 at 2200 AEDT, Wed 3 Feb 21 at 0000 NZDT

Science of the Total Environment

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated 6. ... The COVID-19 pandemic has not only created a global health and Read more about Recycling face masks into roads to tackle COVID-generated waste

Nasal spray that protects against COVID-19 is also effective against the common cold

Publicly released: Tue 2 Feb 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

European Respiratory Journal

Consistent with what we have reported for other respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), INNA-X treatment prior to infection reduced the level of virus ... INNA-X has Read more about Nasal spray that protects against COVID-19 is also effective against the common cold

Far more storage needed to avoid mask shortages

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

PLOS ONE

The team applied game theory to model better ways of managing PPE supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... of COVID-19 infections. Read more about Far more storage needed to avoid mask shortages

"Don't be afraid of COVID": Did Trump's tweets change peoples views on COVID?

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

JAMA Network Open

Trump's tweets about his COVID infection may have influenced public opinion on whether the virus was a hoax and how serious the issue was, according to US research. ... Every article is free online from Read more about "Don't be afraid of COVID": Did Trump's tweets change peoples views on COVID?

Black healthcare workers at highest risk of contracting COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 1 Feb 2021 at 1603 AEDT, 1803 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

to June 2020 within their health care system to quantify occupational, community, and demographic risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. ... The researchers found an overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence Read more about Black healthcare workers at highest risk of contracting COVID-19

Patent filed for new tool in the detection of COVID-19 infection

Publicly released: Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 1439 AEDT, 1639 NZDT

The novel signatures proved to be highly effective (95% or higher) at distinguishing SARS Cov-2 positive patients from patients with mild to moderate non-COVID-19 respiratory disease. ... This is an Read more about Patent filed for new tool in the detection of COVID-19 infection

EXPERT REACTION: Novavax vaccine shows 89.3% efficacy in phase 3 trial

Publicly released: Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 1117 AEDT, 1317 NZDT

It has just been reported that the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine has demonstrated an 89. ... 3% efficacy in its UK phase 3 trial. Below, experts comment on the findings. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Novavax vaccine shows 89.3% efficacy in phase 3 trial

COVID-19 infection may reduce fertility in men

Publicly released: Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Reproduction

COVID-19 is a coronavirus that causes respiratory illness and in older people, or those with particular underlying medical problems, the infection can be severe and even lead to death. ... These findings Read more about COVID-19 infection may reduce fertility in men

Mutation helps coronavirus evade antibodies

Publicly released: Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 0950 AEDT, 1150 NZDT

Cell

While the COVID-19 virus is a relatively slow evolver, some recent mutations have had a significant impact. ... COVID-19 have been recorded and only about 350,000 virus variants have been sequenced. Read more about Mutation helps coronavirus evade antibodies

Attacks on science rival COVID-19 as a public health threat

Publicly released: Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS Biology

As public health experts feared, COVID-19 cases and deaths surged in the US following the Thanksgiving holiday, when millions of Americans ignored pleas to forego traditional gatherings. ... Peer Read more about Attacks on science rival COVID-19 as a public health threat