Resources for Journalists

Lower COVID-19 death rate linked to TB vaccination

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2020 at 0917 AEST, 1117 NZST

PNAS

Researchers looking at socially similar European countries have found that the number of COVID-19 deaths is lower in areas with more widespread tuberculosis vaccination campaigns. ... The study authors Read more about Lower COVID-19 death rate linked to TB vaccination

EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19-causing virus not likely to have come just from bat virus

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is structurally different enough from its nearest bat virus relative that it is most likely the result of two or more distinct ... The scientists analysed the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19-causing virus not likely to have come just from bat virus

Pasteurising breast milk kills coronavirus

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

CMAJ

Canadian researchers have discovered pasteurisation - the commonly-used method of heating milk to kill germs - also works against the virus that causes COVID-19. ... The virus was inactivated by the Read more about Pasteurising breast milk kills coronavirus

Lockdown feels slower if you're older, lonelier, or more stressed

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2020 at 0855 AEST, 1055 NZST

PLOS One

A UK survey has confirmed the lockdown measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic have a time-warp effect. ... The time drag effect was also associated with higher stress and a lower task load. Read more about Lockdown feels slower if you're older, lonelier, or more stressed

Box designed to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 may increase exposure

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2020 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

Anaesthesia

Aerosol boxes designed to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 can actually increase their exposure to airborne particles that carry the virus, according to Australian research. ... Aerosol boxes have Read more about Box designed to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 may increase exposure

Stress-linked 'broken heart syndrome' more common during COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The incidence of stress cardiomyopathy, also known as 'broken heart syndrome', has increase significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with pre-pandemic periods, according to US research. Read more about Stress-linked 'broken heart syndrome' more common during COVID-19 pandemic

EXPERT REACTION: Should masks become mandatory in Melbourne?

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jul 2020 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

As lockdown begins in Melbourne, questions are being raised about whether masks should be made mandatory in public places to help stem the rates of COVID-19, as is the case Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Should masks become mandatory in Melbourne?

How hot are the next 5 years likely to be?

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jul 2020 at 1530 AEST, 1730 NZST

years (2020-2024) and there is a 20 per cent chance that it will exceed 1. ... The research does not take into account changes in emissions as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, although the WMO Read more about How hot are the next 5 years likely to be?

Study of 17 million confirms factors that make COVID-19 more likely to kill

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jul 2020 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

Nature

19. The study found men had a greater (1. 59-fold-higher) risk of COVID-19-related death than women, and age was also found to be a risk factor - people ... The most deprived people in the cohort were Read more about Study of 17 million confirms factors that make COVID-19 more likely to kill

NZ scientists find weak points in coronavirus genes

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jul 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Otago researchers studying the genome of the virus that causes COVID-19 have found previously unrecognised weak spots, which could be targets for a future treatment. ... Their findings open up the Read more about NZ scientists find weak points in coronavirus genes

EXPERT REACTION: Melbourne returns to stage 3 restrictions

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jul 2020 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has this afternoon announced metropolitan Melbourne will return to stage 3 restrictions for the next 6 weeks amid growing cases of COVID-19. ... The restrictions, which will Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Melbourne returns to stage 3 restrictions

COVID-19 patients without symptoms must be detected and isolated to prevent outbreaks

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jul 2020 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

PNAS

US and Canadian scientists used computers to model the spread of COVID-19 from people who have yet to develop symptoms or don't have any symptoms, and say isolating only ... At least a third of COVID-19 Read more about COVID-19 patients without symptoms must be detected and isolated to prevent outbreaks

COVID-19 vaccine trial underway in Perth: First participants dosed after thousands register

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jul 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

An unprecedented number of people signed up to help in the fight against COVID-19 with more than 4000 registering for a vaccine trial at Perth’s Linear Clinical Research. Read more about COVID-19 vaccine trial underway in Perth: First participants dosed after thousands register

Hydroxychloroquine scripts skyrocketed as COVID spread

Publicly released: Tue 7 Jul 2020 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

The researchers found that in one month, around 300,000 additional patients received hydroxychloroquine from retail pharmacies, including an approximate additional 93,000 patients who received both Read more about Hydroxychloroquine scripts skyrocketed as COVID spread

EXPERT REACTION: Was COVID-19 in Europe in March 2019?

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jul 2020 at 1530 AEST, 1730 NZST

A recent pre-print study has claimed to have found traces of COVID-19 in Spain in March 2019, well before the first reported case in Europe. ... The yet to be peer-reviewed research tracked SARS-CoV-2, Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Was COVID-19 in Europe in March 2019?

We ignore airborne spread of COVID-19 at our peril

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jul 2020 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

Clinical Infectious Diseases

A plea issued by 239 scientists from around the world to recognise and mitigate airborne transmission of COVID-19 addressed to international health authorities is published in the journal Clinical Read more about We ignore airborne spread of COVID-19 at our peril

Demand for COVID-19 rehab places could be the next strain on our health system

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jul 2020 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

MJA

Many rehabilitation units are not prepared to meet needs of survivors of COVID-19 and subsequent waves of the virus would strain the rehabilitation sector, say health experts. ... Hospital Read more about Demand for COVID-19 rehab places could be the next strain on our health system

More caution needed to keep older adults safe from COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

PLOS One

When it comes to measures to prevent COVID-19, older people aren't being as cautious as expected, according to new survey data from 27 countries, including Australia. ... Older adults might be expected to Read more about More caution needed to keep older adults safe from COVID-19

Preprint about a 'more contagious strain' of coronavirus changed in peer review

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 1053 AEST, 1253 NZST

Cell

In early May, news broke about a reportedly more contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus, based on a piece of non-peer-reviewed research independently published online. ... As a result, it is not known Read more about Preprint about a 'more contagious strain' of coronavirus changed in peer review

Testing tuberculosis vaccine combinations for COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jul 2020 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

Sydney researchers are taking an innovative approach to designing potential COVID-19 vaccines - using a tuberculosis vaccine to deliver components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Read more about Testing tuberculosis vaccine combinations for COVID-19