Resources for Journalists

Herd immunity approach a ‘dangerous fallacy’

Publicly released: Fri 16 Oct 2020 at 0905 AEDT, 1105 NZDT

The Lancet

Health researchers have openly denounced the herd immunity approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic as “unsupported by scientific evidence. ” ... They conclude that controlling community spread of Read more about Herd immunity approach a ‘dangerous fallacy’

Global lockdowns result in almost 9% drop in CO2 emissions

Publicly released: Thu 15 Oct 2020 at 1500 AEDT, 1700 NZDT

Nature Communications

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in one of the largest drops in global CO2 emissions in history, based on near-real-time data collected during the first half of 2020. ... Compared to the same time Read more about Global lockdowns result in almost 9% drop in CO2 emissions

COVID-19 testing explained

Publicly released: Thu 15 Oct 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Australian Prescriber

Nucleic acid assays using swabs from the nose and throat are the cornerstone of diagnosing acute COVID-19,” she says. ... Serological testing detects antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in the blood. These Read more about COVID-19 testing explained

EXPERT REACTION: No evidence of excess deaths in NZ and Australia due to pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 14 Oct 2020 at 2000 AEDT, 2200 NZDT

Nature Medicine

Over a million people around the world have died as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now researchers have counted the indirect loss of lives caused by social, ... Looking at data from 21 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: No evidence of excess deaths in NZ and Australia due to pandemic

Belief in COVID misinformation found worldwide

Publicly released: Wed 14 Oct 2020 at 1001 AEDT, 1201 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Researchers surveyed 5,000 people across the US, UK, Mexico, Spain, and Ireland, finding that most people did not believe in COVID-19 misinformation. ... The authors say COVID-19 misinformation is a Read more about Belief in COVID misinformation found worldwide

Rare loss of hearing due to COVID-19 reported in UK

Publicly released: Wed 14 Oct 2020 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

BMJ Case Reports

However, only four previous cases have so far linked sudden hearing loss with COVID-19. ... Researchers in the UK have reported a new case study of a middle-aged man with a severe COVID infection, who Read more about Rare loss of hearing due to COVID-19 reported in UK

Surprise finding: no major increase in Australians washing their hands since this time last year

Publicly released: Wed 14 Oct 2020 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

As handwashing was a major component of the national campaign to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, we were surprised that 20 per cent of men and 15 per cent ... of women report they still don’t Read more about Surprise finding: no major increase in Australians washing their hands since this time last year

EXPERT REACTION: Johnson & Johnson pauses COVID-19 vaccine trial

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 1730 AEDT, 1930 NZDT

US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has confirmed it has temporarily paused its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. ... While the company did Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Johnson & Johnson pauses COVID-19 vaccine trial

EXPERT REACTION: How reliable is a review suggesting Hydroxychloroquine works for early COVID-19?

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 1659 AEDT, 1859 NZDT

New Microbes and New Infections

A systematic review suggests that Hydroxychloroquine is effective against COVID-19 when used early in the outpatient setting, however, an Australian expert says the results of this review are not Read more about EXPERT REACTION: How reliable is a review suggesting Hydroxychloroquine works for early COVID-19?

Infant sleep affected by more screentime

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 1522 AEDT, 1722 NZDT

Sleep

With screen time on the rise due to the coronavirus pandemic there is renewed attention on its impact on children and babies. ... A new study, published in the international Sleep journal, found that Read more about Infant sleep affected by more screentime

Research shows pandemic’s toll on arts and creative sector workers’ mental health

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

Experts from RMIT University are available to talk about the impact of Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions on arts workers, including creative and technical workers and the implications for their Read more about Research shows pandemic’s toll on arts and creative sector workers’ mental health

First case of COVID-19 reinfection reported in the US

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

A study has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 reinfection in the USA. ... The case reported a 25-year-old man who was infected with two distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants within a 48-day timeframe, while Read more about First case of COVID-19 reinfection reported in the US

Did COVID curb Aussie drinking habits? Long-term research is needed

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

From closed pubs to restrictions on social gatherings, COVID-19 has impacted how Australians consume alcohol but exactly how is little understood, say Aussie researchers. ... In an editorial, the authors Read more about Did COVID curb Aussie drinking habits? Long-term research is needed

America's COVID fail: 180,000 lives would have been saved if the US had Australia's COVID death rate

Publicly released: Tue 13 Oct 2020 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA

If the US COVID death rates were comparable to Australia, they would have had 187,661 fewer COVID-19 deaths, making up around 94 percent of all their reported deaths, according ... The study found Read more about America's COVID fail: 180,000 lives would have been saved if the US had Australia's COVID death rate

Adequate PPE could save lives of more than 2m healthcare workers

Publicly released: Mon 12 Oct 2020 at 1259 AEDT, 1459 NZDT

PLOS One

Researchers estimated that buying enough PPE for healthcare workers in these countries would cost around $14m NZD, but save the lives of roughly 2. ... 2 million staff. Around $89 NZD would be saved per Read more about Adequate PPE could save lives of more than 2m healthcare workers

Clinical study aims to better understand COVID-19 immunity

Publicly released: Mon 12 Oct 2020 at 1244 AEDT, 1444 NZDT

People who have recovered from COVID-19, and their close contacts, could hold the key to understanding how immunity to the disease develops, how long it lasts and what happens when ... The COVID PROFILE Read more about Clinical study aims to better understand COVID-19 immunity

In the eye of a stellar cyclone

Publicly released: Mon 12 Oct 2020 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

While on lockdown for COVID-19 earlier this year, a Sydney undergraduate unlocked the bizarre secrets of a ticking time-bomb star, dubbed one of the "exotic peacocks of the stellar Read more about In the eye of a stellar cyclone

Looking into SARS-CoV-2 virus ‘survivability’

Publicly released: Mon 12 Oct 2020 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Virology

Researchers at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, have found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can survive for up to 28 days on common surfaces including ... banknotes, glass Read more about Looking into SARS-CoV-2 virus ‘survivability’

Gold standard trial shows remdesivir works for COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 9 Oct 2020 at 1110 AEDT, 1310 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

Remdesivir shortens the time to recovery in adults with COVID-19 who were hospitalised with lower respiratory tract infection, according to the results of a double-blind, randomized, ... A preliminary Read more about Gold standard trial shows remdesivir works for COVID-19

Who is most likely to follow COVID-19 guidelines?

Publicly released: Fri 9 Oct 2020 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

PLOS One

Certain personality traits make you more likely to comply with COVID-19 guidelines than others, according to a survey of 8,548 Japanese people. ... The team looked at the ‘big five’ personality traits: Read more about Who is most likely to follow COVID-19 guidelines?