Resources for Journalists

No long-term climate benefits from COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 7 Aug 2020 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Climate Change

Policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will have a negligible impact on long-term warming, according to new research. ... Scientists have calculated that recent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions Read more about No long-term climate benefits from COVID-19

The pandemic likely isn't changing our personalities

Publicly released: Fri 7 Aug 2020 at 0945 AEST, 1145 NZST

PLOS ONE

far the COVID-19 pandemic has had very little effect on the "Big Five" personality traits. ... The team surveyed a little over 2,000 adults in the US before and during the pandemic, and found that other Read more about The pandemic likely isn't changing our personalities

COVID-19 patients without symptoms shed just as much virus as those with symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 7 Aug 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

South Korean and Canadian scientists measured how much virus was shed by 303 COVID-19 patients, 193 of whom had symptoms, and 110 of whom didn't, and say both groups ... were shedding a similar amount of Read more about COVID-19 patients without symptoms shed just as much virus as those with symptoms

Babies will fare well against COVID-19 if they are kept close to mum

Publicly released: Fri 7 Aug 2020 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

Journal of Human Lactation

A Western Sydney University researcher has drawn on international evidence to compare the potential health implications of COVID-19 for newborn babies, against the damage that is known to be caused Read more about Babies will fare well against COVID-19 if they are kept close to mum

Doctors can help oldies stay active during the pandemic

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

Health systems must consider how best to support older people to remain physically active during the COVID-19 pandemic, say Australian researchers. ... Doctors should discuss the importance of remaining Read more about Doctors can help oldies stay active during the pandemic

COVID-19 mouse model suggests immune response causes more lung damage than the virus

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 1620 AEST, 1820 NZST

Journal of Experimental Medicine

US scientists have developed a new mouse model to study COVID-19, and say antiviral signalling proteins called type I interferons produced by the body may actually cause much of the ... To make mice Read more about COVID-19 mouse model suggests immune response causes more lung damage than the virus

Household quarantine could flatten second COVID-19 waves

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Nature Human Behaviour

Quarantining the households of people with COVID-19 symptoms alone isn't enough to curb a second wave of infections, according to a modelling study based on mobility data from Boston. ... They propose a Read more about Household quarantine could flatten second COVID-19 waves

COVID-19 a perfect storm for conspiracy theories

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 0930 AEST, 1130 NZST

Media International Australia

As the global count of COVID-19 infections heads towards the 20M mark, the pandemic has created what the World Health Organisation calls an ‘infodemic’, giving conspiracy groups a bigger platform Read more about COVID-19 a perfect storm for conspiracy theories

COVID-19 research call for domestic violence workers

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

UNSW researchers seek workers helping people impacted by domestic and family violence for a study into how services are meeting community need during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more about COVID-19 research call for domestic violence workers

CSIRO launches Australia’s first accredited face mask testing facility

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has launched the nation’s first accredited surgical face mask testing facility in Melbourne today, to help frontline health workers in the fight Read more about CSIRO launches Australia’s first accredited face mask testing facility

Species that can make us sick thrive in human habitats

Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2020 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

Human-managed ecosystems harbour more hosts of zoonotic disease - diseases that start in animals and spread to humans, such as Ebola and the virus causing COVID-19 - than undisturbed habitats, say Read more about Species that can make us sick thrive in human habitats

AI predictions suggest easing of lockdowns overseas has not increased COVID-19 cases or deaths

Publicly released: Wed 5 Aug 2020 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

International scientists have used artificial intelligence to predict COVID-19 cases and deaths in Italy, Spain, France and Germany had stringent lockdowns remained in place and not been eased. Read more about AI predictions suggest easing of lockdowns overseas has not increased COVID-19 cases or deaths

Human embryos may be vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2

Publicly released: Wed 5 Aug 2020 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Open Biology

New research suggests that human embryos could be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, as early as the second week of pregnancy if the mother gets sick. ... However, the authors Read more about Human embryos may be vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2

Risk of COVID-19 spreading in schools and childcare is very low

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

Real world data from the first wave of COVID-19 infections in NSW has shown that the risk of children and staff transmitting the virus in schools and early childhood education ... 2 per cent). A second Read more about Risk of COVID-19 spreading in schools and childcare is very low

Melbourne's stage 3 lockdowns have prevented thousands of infections

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

MJA

Victoria's COVID-19 control measures have reduced the reproduction ratio of the virus from 1. ... 75 to 1. 16 and averted between 9000 and 37 000 infections between 2 and 30 July, according to new research Read more about Melbourne's stage 3 lockdowns have prevented thousands of infections

Used COVID-19 PPE could be turned into biofuels instead of landing in landfill

Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2020 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Biofuels

As COVID-19 sweeps the world, PPE is being disposed of at unprecedented levels, which could become a significant threat to the environment. ... And, unlike the plastics used in PPE, the resulting fuel is Read more about Used COVID-19 PPE could be turned into biofuels instead of landing in landfill

The scoop on 5G: University of Sydney experts available to comment

Publicly released: Mon 3 Aug 2020 at 1730 AEST, 1930 NZST

On Monday night ABC Four Corners will explore 5G technology, investigating conspiracy theories that say it causes COVID-19, as well as how it is set to revolutionise the Internet. ... University of Read more about The scoop on 5G: University of Sydney experts available to comment

Food menu fit for pandemic times

Publicly released: Mon 3 Aug 2020 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

Health Promotion Journal of Australia

On the heels of devastating bushfires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, eating well in a sustainable way is more important now than ever, Flinders University experts say. ... Eating local’ and growing Read more about Food menu fit for pandemic times

More Australians travelling for social reasons since initial COVID-19 restrictions

Publicly released: Mon 3 Aug 2020 at 0934 AEST, 1134 NZST

A rising number of Australians are travelling for social and recreational reasons since the initial coronavirus travel restrictions were set up, according to initial findings of a survey by the Read more about More Australians travelling for social reasons since initial COVID-19 restrictions

Disability workers face illness risk and uncertainty due to COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 3 Aug 2020 at 0922 AEST, 1122 NZST

Disability Support Workers (DSWs) are risking illness with minimal training during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, a new survey has found. Read more about Disability workers face illness risk and uncertainty due to COVID-19