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. Fatigue lingers in more than half of patients who have recovered from COVID-19

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Sep 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

    ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease

    Persistent fatigue occurs in more than half of patients recovered from COVID-19, regardless of the seriousness of their infection, according to research being presented at the ESCMID Conference on Read more about Fatigue lingers in more than half of patients who have recovered from COVID-19

    InternationalTrinity College, Ireland

  2. Most COVID-19 infections are spread through respiratory droplets or aerosols and not surfaces

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Sep 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

    Annals of Internal Medicine

    COVID-19 is spread most often through respiratory droplets or aerosols and little evidence exists supporting transmission via surfaces, according to an international review of studies. ... Although Read more about Most COVID-19 infections are spread through respiratory droplets or aerosols and not surfaces

    InternationalMontefiore Medical Center, USA

  3. COVID superspreading events show 20 per cent of people are spreading 80 percent of infections

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Sep 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

    Nature Medicine

    The study looked at COVID-19 spread in Hong Kong, with the authors saying that public health authorities should focus on rapidly tracing and quarantining contacts, along with implementing ... social Read more about COVID superspreading events show 20 per cent of people are spreading 80 percent of infections

    Australia; International; NSWThe Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society ...

  4. COVID-19 could lower life expectancy in severely affected areas

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Sep 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS ONE

    The researchers examined the impact of COVID-19-related deaths on life expectancy in four broad world regions across multiple rates of infection and age groups. ... They found that at very low prevalence Read more about COVID-19 could lower life expectancy in severely affected areas

    InternationalInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

  5. COVID-19 may be increasing the gender gap in science

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Sep 2020 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women, and it seems women in science are no different. ... The research did not find a similar change in gender gap on the biology research Read more about COVID-19 may be increasing the gender gap in science

    InternationalUniversity of Texas, USA

  6. Travel restrictions limit the spread of COVID-19 better than screening people at borders

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Sep 2020 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

    Restricting travel across borders is probably more effective than entry and exit screening, according to a wide-ranging review of the evidence. ... The review found screening is likely to be more Read more about Travel restrictions limit the spread of COVID-19 better than screening people at borders

    InternationalInstitute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, IBE, LMU Munich, Germany

  7. Wearing glasses may help protect you from COVID-19

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Sep 2020 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

    JAMA Ophthalmology

    Good news for the goggle-eyed among us! Wearing glasses every day may help cut your risk of being infected with COVID-19, according to Chinese research. ... The authors conclude that wearing eyeglasses Read more about Wearing glasses may help protect you from COVID-19

    InternationalThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China

  8. To tweet or not to tweet: what boosts COVID-19 retweets?

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Sep 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS ONE

    Official tweets about COVID-19 which include video attachments are more likely to be retweeted than those without, according to a new analysis of messages shared by US public health organisations. Read more about To tweet or not to tweet: what boosts COVID-19 retweets?

    InternationalUniversity at Albany, USA

  9. Blood from recovered Covid patients may save lives

    Publicly released: Wed 16 Sep 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

    Nature Medicine

    Antibody-rich plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients may be an effective stopgap treatment while we wait for new antiviral medications and vaccines. ... In a new study, 39 patients with severe COVID-19 Read more about Blood from recovered Covid patients may save lives

    InternationalIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA

  10. Formal procedures needed to fix ill-fitting face masks

    Publicly released: Wed 16 Sep 2020 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

    Anaesthesia

    COVID-19 has put the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirator face masks, under the global spotlight, but Aussie researchers have found masks do not always fit health care Read more about Formal procedures needed to fix ill-fitting face masks

    Australia; WAThe University of Western Australia | Telethon Kids Institute ...

  11. Australia to assist South East Asia with early warning COVID-19 surveillance

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Sep 2020 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

    Australian scientists and health professionals in the water sector have partnered to transfer leading Australian innovation in the environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 to support the governments Read more about Australia to assist South East Asia with early warning COVID-19 surveillance

    AustraliaWater Research Australia

  12. If we spent the cost of COVID on pandemic preparations it would have lasted 500 years

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Sep 2020 at 1107 AEST, 1307 NZST

    It would take 500 years to spend as much on preparedness as the world is currently losing due to COVID-19, according to the latest report from the World Health ... In its new report, they provide a harsh Read more about If we spent the cost of COVID on pandemic preparations it would have lasted 500 years

    InternationalWorld Health Organization

  13. WHO releases new COVID-19 guidance for schools

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Sep 2020 at 0807 AEST, 1007 NZST

    The World Health Organisation has released new guidance for schools to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to students and staff. ... The report replaces previous guidance, released in May 2020, and introduces Read more about WHO releases new COVID-19 guidance for schools

    InternationalWorld Health Organisation

  14. Early-outbreak quarantine cheaper, more effective

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Sep 2020 at 0739 AEST, 0939 NZST

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

    A wide-ranging review of the evidence for quarantine has been updated, finding it is most effective in stemming COVID-19 infections and deaths when started earlier in an outbreak. ... However the authors Read more about Early-outbreak quarantine cheaper, more effective

    InternationalDanube University Krems, Austria

  15. COVID-19 immunity may be short-lived

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Sep 2020 at 0704 AEST, 0904 NZST

    Nature Medicine

    Long-term immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection seems unlikely, according to new research on similar coronaviruses. ... A study of ten healthy men monitored over 35 years in Amsterdam found that reinfection Read more about COVID-19 immunity may be short-lived

    InternationalAmsterdam UMC, The Netherlands

  16. Far from optimal: immune cell responses in COVID-19 patients

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Sep 2020 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

    PNAS

    Melbourne researchers have discovered that killer T cells - key immune cells in fighting viral infections - are present at much lower levels in people with COVID-19, compared to influenza Read more about Far from optimal: immune cell responses in COVID-19 patients

    Australia; VICDoherty Institute for Infection and Immunity | The University of Melbourne ...

  17. Estimating the cost of widespread COVID-19 testing of higher-risk groups

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Sep 2020 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

    CMAJ

    Prioritising certain groups for COVID-19 testing could be a good investment for governments' pandemic responses. ... Canadian researchers identified five priority groups: contacts of people who have Read more about Estimating the cost of widespread COVID-19 testing of higher-risk groups

    InternationalMcGill University, Canada

  18. Just one in ten US COVID-19 cases were documented by April - estimate

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Sep 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

    Nature Communications

    The United States' confirmed COVID-19 numbers don’t truly reflect the burden of the pandemic, say researchers who have aimed to fill in the gaps left by limited testing. ... While around 720,000 cases Read more about Just one in ten US COVID-19 cases were documented by April - estimate

    InternationalUniversity of California, Berkeley, USA

  19. Risk of getting COVID-19 not equal among UK hospital staff

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Sep 2020 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    Thorax

    Contrary to expectations, the risk of COVID-19 infection was lowest among intensive care clinicians working in one major UK medical centre, new research has revealed. ... British researchers tested more Read more about Risk of getting COVID-19 not equal among UK hospital staff

    InternationalUniversity of Birmingham, UK

  20. COVID response in lower-income countries could cost billions per month

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Sep 2020 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The Lancet

    For some perspective, this figure amounts to around 20% of the health expenditure in low-income countries in 2017. ... The findings lead the study authors to conclude that these countries will conserve Read more about COVID response in lower-income countries could cost billions per month

    InternationalWorld Health Organisation, Switzerland

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