Resources for Journalists

Maternal nurse home visits improve mothers’ mental health

Publicly released: Fri 29 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Pediatrics

Professor Goldfeld said it was critical and timely to embed the program into existing services, as the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the economic and psychosocial stressors for families with young Read more about Maternal nurse home visits improve mothers’ mental health

Over half the people who survived being hospitalised with COVID still have symptoms after 4 months

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jan 2021 at 1442 AEDT, 1642 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

A significant proportion of survivors of COVID-19 are still feeling its effects four months after leaving the hospital, according to Italian research, which found many experienced ... The study of 238 Read more about Over half the people who survived being hospitalised with COVID still have symptoms after 4 months

How long after COVID symptoms do you actually shed live virus?

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jan 2021 at 1327 AEDT, 1527 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

Once COVID-19 symptoms begin, the virus is live and can be grown for around seven days, according to US research, while people can still test positive for up to 34 ... days. Our current COVID-19 tests Read more about How long after COVID symptoms do you actually shed live virus?

EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in older adults

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jan 2021 at 1210 AEDT, 1410 NZDT

Uncertainty about the efficacy of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in people over 65 years has caused some confusion in media reports, with some saying it may be much less effective ... AstraZeneca have Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in older adults

Lying face down may not help COVID-19 patients breathe easier

Publicly released: Thu 28 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

Respirology

Lying in the prone position, face down, has been suggested as a way to help people with COVID-19 who are struggling to  breathe, but Australian doctors have found that for ... people with COVID-19 who Read more about Lying face down may not help COVID-19 patients breathe easier

Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

A simulation model for small workplaces shows that workers who are open about testing for COVID-19 and their test results translate into improved workplace productivity and minimised infections, Read more about Being transparent about COVID testing benefits the workplace

Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Measures to reduce COVID-19 spread in English primary schools reduced close in-person contacts by 50-80 per cent, according to UK research. ... Novel approach to evaluate contact patterns and risk Read more about Even very young kids can socially distance at school

Why does Flu get worse as we age - and is it the same for COVID?

Publicly released: Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

Clinical & Translational Immunology

The team also found that regardless of age, people infected with COVID-19 similarly did not produce the emergency signals needed for an early immune response to the virus. ... They also suggest that Read more about Why does Flu get worse as we age - and is it the same for COVID?

No fans, no fights - did sporting matches get less heated during COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

Humanities & Social Sciences Communications

in games played during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, when supporters were absent. ... Michael Leitner, the first author of the study said: “During the COVID-19 pandemic the Austrian Bundesliga – like Read more about No fans, no fights - did sporting matches get less heated during COVID?

Smoking increases your risk of severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 26 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Previously evidence to link smoking to COVID-19 risk had been limited and often contradictory but this study found that the cumulative exposure to cigarette smoke was an independent risk factor Read more about Smoking increases your risk of severe COVID-19

EXPERT REACTION: TGA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 1232 AEDT, 1432 NZDT

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) today announced that it has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. ... It is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved in Australia. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: TGA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Global demand for cancer surgery set to surge

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 1046 AEDT, 1246 NZDT

The Lancet Oncology

The modelling study was an international collaboration between researchers from UNSW Sydney, University of Toronto, Kings College London, and the World Health Organization. ... The study did not assess Read more about Global demand for cancer surgery set to surge

Need for school children to return to sport

Publicly released: Mon 25 Jan 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

in addition to worries about COVID-19 restrictions. ... There is a chance that sport can be better for all children and youth than before COVID-19 restrictions through a different model of youth sport Read more about Need for school children to return to sport

Tweets show the good, the bad, and the ugly of lockdown

Publicly released: Sat 23 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

PLoS ONE

In South Africa the Covid-19 lockdown had a significant negative impact on happiness. ... This was measured using sentiment analysis of Twitter posts (between January and June), with every tweet Read more about Tweets show the good, the bad, and the ugly of lockdown

PTSD link to pandemic panic

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1439 AEDT, 1639 NZDT

PLoS ONE

We found that traumatic stress was related to future events, such as worry about oneself or a family member contracting COVID-19, to direct contact with the virus, as well as ... a range of research on Read more about PTSD link to pandemic panic

Truth-telling vital for Australia's unity

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1430 AEDT, 1630 NZDT

It is important that all Australians understand the impacts of colonisation and dispossession and the truth of the frontiers wars", says co-author Aboriginal archaeologist Dr Kellie Pollard, from Read more about Truth-telling vital for Australia's unity

The National Youth Science Forum 2021 Year 12 Program closing event: Meet the Chiefs

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

They will be particularly interested in the key STEM industries and job opportunities available to them in the future. ... The world will be spending trillions of dollars to counter the economic effects Read more about The National Youth Science Forum 2021 Year 12 Program closing event: Meet the Chiefs

Could COVID quarantine be reduced to a week?

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

The Lancet Public Health

for contacts of COVID-19 cases UK modelling study estimates 59% of SARS-CoV-2 transmission may be prevented by completing the WHO recommended 14-day quarantine period after exposure to ... Rapid lateral Read more about Could COVID quarantine be reduced to a week?

Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

JAMA Ophthalmology

Genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the cornea of patients with COVID-19, according to German research. ... Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Cornea of Patients Read more about Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

Severe allergic reaction extremely rare with Pfizer COVID vaccine

Publicly released: Fri 22 Jan 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

JAMA Insights

Severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine are rare, with around 11 cases for every million doses administered, say US scientists. ... During December 14 to 23, 2020, Read more about Severe allergic reaction extremely rare with Pfizer COVID vaccine