Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, that has not been previously identified in humans. See below for a collection of resources to help you cover this issue (Please note: additional resources are available to journalists who are logged in).

The AusSMC also issues a daily COVID-19 update for registered journalists (click here to view an example). If you would like to receive this email, please go to your profile on MyScimex and select yes beside "Receive COVID-19 Updates?". The email update and this resources page are supported by the Google News Initiative.

Latest COVID-19 news, research, expert reactions and briefings

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  1. Isolation makes us literally hungry for company

    Publicly released: Tue 24 Nov 2020 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Nature Neuroscience

    Social isolation can evoke a craving response in the human brain, US research finds. ... Scientists restricted the in-person and online social interactions of 40 people for ten hours and measured their Read more about Isolation makes us literally hungry for company

    InternationalMassachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

  2. Greenhouse gas is still at record levels despite COVID-19 lockdowns, according to WMO

    Publicly released: Mon 23 Nov 2020 at 2100 AEDT, 2300 NZDT

    WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin

    The WMO says COVID-19 has not curbed record levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, despite the industrial slowdown as a result of the pandemic. ... The WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Read more about Greenhouse gas is still at record levels despite COVID-19 lockdowns, according to WMO

    InternationalWorld Meteorological Organization (WMO)

  3. Pioneering remote screening for vital health signs indicating COVID-19

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 1330 AEDT, 1530 NZDT

    A key symptom of COVID-19 – oxygen saturation – is now being estimated remotely from a camera, thanks to research from University of South Australia engineers Professor Javaan Chahl, Dr Ali Read more about Pioneering remote screening for vital health signs indicating COVID-19

    Australia; SAUniversity of South Australia

  4. Don’t use remdesivir to treat COVID-19 - WHO

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

    The BMJ

    The WHO has concluded that remdesivir has no meaningful effect on whether COVID-19 patients die, need to go on a ventilator, or how long they take to improve. ... After thoroughly reviewing the evidence, Read more about Don’t use remdesivir to treat COVID-19 - WHO

    InternationalWorld Health Organization

  5. Infectiousness peaks early in COVID-19 patients, cases need to be rapidly isolated

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 1050 AEDT, 1250 NZDT

    The Lancet Microbe

    People infected with SARS-CoV-2 are most likely to be highly infectious in the first week after symptom onset, highlighting the need to identify and isolate cases early, according to ... Unlike COVID-19, Read more about Infectiousness peaks early in COVID-19 patients, cases need to be rapidly isolated

    InternationalUniversity of St Andrews, UK

  6. Slaughterhouses are coronavirus hotspots

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    PNAS

    Livestock processing plants are responsible for up to 8 per cent of all coronavirus infections in the United States, new research finds. ... The study authors say as of July, slaughterhouses were linked Read more about Slaughterhouses are coronavirus hotspots

    InternationalColumbia University, USA

  7. How the flu spreads within cities

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

    PLOS Pathogens

    The researchers say this kind of data can help in understanding how respiratory viruses spread and could lead to more efficient public health interventions, including for the current COVID-19 Read more about How the flu spreads within cities

    InternationalETH Zürich, Switzerland

  8. NZers toughed out appendicitis through lockdown

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    NZMJ

    The number of patients with appendicitis in New Zealand hospitals noticeably dropped over the national COVID-19 lockdown. ... However those who did go to hospital had been experiencing symptoms for longer, Read more about NZers toughed out appendicitis through lockdown

    New ZealandTauranga Hospital

  9. Start monitoring for vaccine side effects now - GP

    Publicly released: Fri 20 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    NZMJ

    A retired GP says New Zealand should set up a system to actively monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. ... The author writes the planning should start urgently, as it took three years to establish Read more about Start monitoring for vaccine side effects now - GP

    New ZealandN/A

  10. Oxford's COVID-19 jab safer in older adults

    Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1800 AEDT, 2000 NZDT

    The Lancet

    Phase 2 trial results from Oxford’s ChAdOx1 vaccine shows it’s better tolerated in older people compared to younger adults, and produces a similar immune response in old and young ... The jab prompted Read more about Oxford's COVID-19 jab safer in older adults

    InternationalOxford Vaccine Group, UK

  11. Potential new target to combat inflammatory diseases

    Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1618 AEDT, 1818 NZDT

    EBioMedicine

    WEHI’s Associate Professor Seth Masters and his research team discovered the compound could prevent up-regulation of CD14, a key inflammatory protein. Read more about Potential new target to combat inflammatory diseases

    Australia; VICWEHI | The University of Melbourne

  12. Smartwatches could help detect COVID before symptoms appear

    Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1508 AEDT, 1708 NZDT

    Nature Biomedical Engineering

    Smartwatches can detect changes in you body as much as nine days before COVID symptoms appear, according to US research. ... The researchers analysed data from 32 individuals infected with COVID-19, Read more about Smartwatches could help detect COVID before symptoms appear

    InternationalStanford University School of Medicine, USA

  13. Trial questions how well masks actually work for COVID-19

    Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

    Annals of Internal Medicine

    A randomised trial of more than 6,000 people in Denmark suggests masks have limited additional benefit in stopping COVID-19 spread for people already following social distancing and hygiene Read more about Trial questions how well masks actually work for COVID-19

    InternationalCopenhagen University Hospital, Denmark

  14. EXPERT REACTION: Does Adelaide have a "super-strain" of COVID-19?

    Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 1249 AEDT, 1449 NZDT

    As South Australia begins a 6-day "circuit-breaking" lockdown, questions have been raised about the particular strain that has caused a cluster in Adelaide's north-west. ... Below Australian experts Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Does Adelaide have a "super-strain" of COVID-19?

    Australia; NSW; QLD; SAAustralian Science Media Centre

  15. Little impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccination in Australia

    Publicly released: Thu 19 Nov 2020 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

    A new report “COVID-19: Impact on routine childhood vaccination uptake in Australia” released today by NCIRS found no substantial impact on vaccination uptake at any of the National Immunisation Read more about Little impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccination in Australia

    Australia; NSWNational Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)

  16. EXPERT REACTION: South Australia to begin 6-day "circuit breaker" lockdown

    Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1534 AEDT, 1734 NZDT

    Schools, restaurants, sport, weddings and funerals are amongst those to be closed or banned. ... The measure, described as a "circuit breaker", is designed to stop a growing cluster of COVID-19 cases in Read more about EXPERT REACTION: South Australia to begin 6-day "circuit breaker" lockdown

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WAAustralian Science Media Centre

  17. Chinese COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and induce immune response

    Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1244 AEDT, 1444 NZDT

    The Lancet Infectious Diseases

    A COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on an inactivated whole SARS-CoV-2 virus has been found to be safe and induce an antibody response in healthy volunteers, results from a ... from COVID-19 - the Read more about Chinese COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and induce immune response

    InternationalZhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China

  18. COVID case numbers may be six times higher than reported

    Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

    Royal Society Open Science

    Australian researchers say the true number of infections in the COVID-19 pandemic could be around six times greater than the reported number of cases. ... In their analysis, Australia was the only country Read more about COVID case numbers may be six times higher than reported

    Australia; VIC; TAS; ACTThe Australian National University | The University of Melbourne ...

  19. Can wearable tech predict COVID-19 and reveal how pandemics affect us?

    Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0700 AEDT, 0900 NZDT

    University of Sydney researchers have joined an international US-led effort to discover if data from wearable tech like smartwatches and activity trackers could provide an early indication of COVID-19 Read more about Can wearable tech predict COVID-19 and reveal how pandemics affect us?

    Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney

  20. Kids mount a COVID-19 immune response without detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

    Publicly released: Wed 18 Nov 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

    Nature Communications

    Children in a Melbourne family developed a COVID-19 immune response after chronic exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus from their parents, a new case report has found. Read more about Kids mount a COVID-19 immune response without detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

    Australia; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)

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