Resources for Journalists

Obesity may increase risk of dying from COVID-19, especially in younger men

Publicly released: Fri 14 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

A US study of 6,900 COVID-19 patients found people in the highest weight group were four times as likely to die within 21 days of their COVID-19 diagnosis ... And the effect may be more pronounced in men Read more about Obesity may increase risk of dying from COVID-19, especially in younger men

Should staff lock down in the nursing home alongside residents to stop COVID coming in?

Publicly released: Fri 14 Aug 2020 at 0930 AEST, 1130 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Only 0. 4 per cent of residents in the nursing homes with staff who self-confined had confirmed COVID-19, compared with 4. ... COVID-19 and residents and staff from COVID-19 infection. Read more about Should staff lock down in the nursing home alongside residents to stop COVID coming in?

Face masks should be distributed to those most vulnerable to COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 14 Aug 2020 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Nature Communications

Researchers in the USA and Taiwan have modelled the effect of masks on COVID-19 infections, taking account of availability and demand. ... The higher the quality of the masks, and the more available they Read more about Face masks should be distributed to those most vulnerable to COVID-19

Big pharma needs big collaboration to scale up COVID-19 vaccine production

Publicly released: Fri 14 Aug 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Science

Researchers in the US are calling for pharmaceutical companies to share information on their manufacturing processes in order to be able to meet the global demand for COVID-19 vaccines. ... They say that Read more about Big pharma needs big collaboration to scale up COVID-19 vaccine production

COVID-19 looks to be just as deadly as the 1918 Spanish flu

Publicly released: Fri 14 Aug 2020 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

17 deaths per 100 000 person-months, compared to 202. 08 deaths per 100 000 person-months during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... which means the relative increase in the deaths Read more about COVID-19 looks to be just as deadly as the 1918 Spanish flu

Learning lessons from NZ's COVID-19 response

Publicly released: Thu 13 Aug 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Political Quarterly

Experts from the University of Canterbury have reviewed the New Zealand government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and identified what they consider to be key lessons for the future. ... They also Read more about Learning lessons from NZ's COVID-19 response

Sharp jump in stillbirths during COVID lockdown

Publicly released: Thu 13 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

A four-fold increase in stillbirths in a large UK maternity hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic might also be replicated in Australia due to guidelines which have discouraged Read more about Sharp jump in stillbirths during COVID lockdown

EXPERT REACTION: Russia approves COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

It has been reported overnight that Russia has approved a COVID-19 vaccine known as Sputnik V for widespread use, after less than two months of human testing. ... Russian President Vladimir Putin Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Russia approves COVID-19 vaccine

Feeling glum? Seven positive stories you may have missed

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still some good happening in the world. ... Here are seven of the University of Sydney's most promising and positive stories that you may have missed. Read more about Feeling glum? Seven positive stories you may have missed

Trust in government linked to lower fear of COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Results of a global survey show that public satisfaction with their government's response to COVID-19 is linked to the level of mental distress caused by the pandemic. ... Researchers have measured public Read more about Trust in government linked to lower fear of COVID-19

Modellers call for better data to plan lockdown exit strategies

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

World-leading epidemic modellers are calling for better data collection and access, in order to improve the models used by governments to plan the release of COVID-19 lockdowns. ... Their report says Read more about Modellers call for better data to plan lockdown exit strategies

Being overweight linked to higher COVID-19 risk

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 0713 AEST, 0913 NZST

PNAS

A new study from the UK has found that adults who are overweight or obese may be at greater risk of hospitalisation for severe COVID-19. ... The researchers tracked over 300,000 people, of whom 640 were Read more about Being overweight linked to higher COVID-19 risk

COVID-19: What kind of masks can we use when fresh N95s are unavailable?

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

US researchers have tested 29 different kinds of face-masks to try and figure out what the best alternatives are if you cannot get your hands on a fresh and fitted ... They add that surgical masks scored Read more about COVID-19: What kind of masks can we use when fresh N95s are unavailable?

Early and mid-career researchers fear their careers are at risk due to pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 12 Aug 2020 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

A recent survey found increased anxiety and strains on mental health of early and mid-career researchers, due to employment uncertainty, the need to manage competing priorities such as caring duties, Read more about Early and mid-career researchers fear their careers are at risk due to pandemic

Malaria discovery could expedite antiviral treatment for COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 11 Aug 2020 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

New research into malaria suggests targeting enzymes from the human host, rather than from the pathogen itself, could offer effective treatment for a range of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Read more about Malaria discovery could expedite antiviral treatment for COVID-19

Pasteurisation inactivates COVID-19 virus in human milk

Publicly released: Tue 11 Aug 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

A new study has confirmed what researchers already suspected to be the case: heat inactivates SARS-CoV-2 in human milk. Read more about Pasteurisation inactivates COVID-19 virus in human milk

Gender and ethnic inequalities in NZ science could be worsened by COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 11 Aug 2020 at 0722 AEST, 0922 NZST

Existing inequalities faced by Māori and Pasifika researchers, as well as women of other ethnic groups, could be exacerbated by COVID-19, according to a report by the Royal Society Te ... The report Read more about Gender and ethnic inequalities in NZ science could be worsened by COVID-19

Africa and Asia face highest economic risk from COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 11 Aug 2020 at 0500 AEST, 0700 NZST

Global Policy

Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia are facing the highest economic threat from COVID-19, according to new research. ... They argue that efforts to reduce these risks should focus on reducing Read more about Africa and Asia face highest economic risk from COVID-19

Coronavirus transmission risk increases along wildlife supply chains

Publicly released: Tue 11 Aug 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

They say that this risk is highest for end consumers, and that this chain likely explains the spillover of coronaviruses from animals to humans. ... trade that could contribute to global epidemics such as Read more about Coronavirus transmission risk increases along wildlife supply chains

Malaria deaths could double if prevention is interrupted by COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 10 Aug 2020 at 1730 AEST, 1930 NZST

Nature Medicine

The authors used COVID-19- and malaria-transmission models to estimate the impact of disrupting malaria-prevention measures (such as distributing mosquito nets) and other essential health services Read more about Malaria deaths could double if prevention is interrupted by COVID-19