Resources for Journalists

Buying time: Drug repurposing key to treating COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 24 Jun 2020 at 1422 AEST, 1622 NZST

Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, Wiley

Australia has done well in its approach to COVID testing, modelling, and viral/vaccine research, but Australia still needs to buy time in this pandemic to wait for a vaccine or ... e. the way the patient Read more about Buying time: Drug repurposing key to treating COVID-19

Australians ‘do the right thing’ when following COVID-19 advice

Publicly released: Wed 24 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

A survey of 1420 Australians conducted at the height of the pandemic shows the majority changed their behaviour to be socially responsible, even when the threat seemed low. Read more about Australians ‘do the right thing’ when following COVID-19 advice

Urban biodiversity focus of pandemic rebuild

Publicly released: Wed 24 Jun 2020 at 0005 AEST, 0205 NZST

EcoHealth (Springer)

The #HealthyRecovery initiative, signed by more than 4500 health professionals from 90 countries, urges G20 Presidents and Prime Ministers to legislate and fund projects to enable ecological Read more about Urban biodiversity focus of pandemic rebuild

COVID-19 modelling suggests social distancing and face masks could make lockdowns unnecessary

Publicly released: Tue 23 Jun 2020 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Nature Human Behaviour

Spanish scientists say their computer modelling suggests COVID-19 lockdowns may be unnecessary if people follow social distancing advice and use face masks properly. ... But any lockdowns must last a Read more about COVID-19 modelling suggests social distancing and face masks could make lockdowns unnecessary

Research into early detection and prediction of severity of COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 19 Jun 2020 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

COVID-19 continues to surprise researchers with a seemingly never ending stream of common complications affecting multiple organs systems including the gut, liver, heart and brain. ... Further research is Read more about Research into early detection and prediction of severity of COVID-19

Call the midwife has translated from the screen into real life

Publicly released: Fri 19 Jun 2020 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

Women and Birth

A new study by University of South Australia researchers shows that the preference for midwifery-led care in pregnancy has doubled in the past 20 years. ... During COVID-19, midwives have proved Read more about Call the midwife has translated from the screen into real life

COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic may have a weaker immune response

Publicly released: Fri 19 Jun 2020 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

Nature Medicine

People who have COVID-19 but never develop any symptoms may have a weaker immune response to the virus, according to Chinese research. ... The researchers studies 37 asymptomatic patients and found they Read more about COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic may have a weaker immune response

COVID-19 lockdowns may impact economic inequalities

Publicly released: Fri 19 Jun 2020 at 0824 AEST, 1024 NZST

PNAS

Italian researchers have studied movement-tracking data from Facebook to examine potential links between COVID-19 lockdowns and income inequality in Italy earlier this year. ... highest number of people Read more about COVID-19 lockdowns may impact economic inequalities

Measles origin finding could inform COVID-19 research

Publicly released: Fri 19 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Science

The team sequenced the DNA of a measles strain from 1912 and looked backwards to assess when the virus likely arose in human populations, dating this at around 6th century BCE. ... In an accompanying Read more about Measles origin finding could inform COVID-19 research

Your blood group may make you more susceptible to COVID19

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jun 2020 at 1600 AEST, 1800 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

A genetic study of Italian COVID-19 patients has found that people with blood group O may have a lower risk of acquiring COVID-19 than non-O blood groups, whereas ... They identified a section of DNA  Read more about Your blood group may make you more susceptible to COVID19

Study reveals dual impact of technology on worker’s mental health

Publicly released: Thu 18 Jun 2020 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Australian Journal of Management

With millions of people working from home throughout the coronavirus outbreak, new research from the University of Sydney has identified key strategies to safeguard mental health including following Read more about Study reveals dual impact of technology on worker’s mental health

EXPERT REACTION: UK research claims steroid dexamethasone reduces death in severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jun 2020 at 1230 AEST, 1430 NZST

Overnight, the University of Oxford in the UK has released the results of a trial into dexamethasone, a low cost steroid, as a treatment for COVID-19. ... The yet-to-be-published or peer-reviewed study is Read more about EXPERT REACTION: UK research claims steroid dexamethasone reduces death in severe COVID-19

Self-isolating and contact tracing key to COVID19 control

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jun 2020 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet

The researchers analysed data on 40,000 people to simulate how combinations of different testing, isolation, tracing, and physical distancing scenarios might contribute to reducing spread. Read more about Self-isolating and contact tracing key to COVID19 control

Looking at the future of NZ’s food production system

Publicly released: Wed 17 Jun 2020 at 0000 AEST, 0200 NZST

New Zealand think tank Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures has taken at look at the future of New Zealand’s agricultural and food production system in a new discussion ... paper. Amidst New Read more about Looking at the future of NZ’s food production system

International collaboration to study the complete COVID-19 journey in WA

Publicly released: Tue 16 Jun 2020 at 1800 AEST, 2000 NZST

The Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) at Murdoch University is partnering with the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge, UK on a study designed to capture the complete Read more about International collaboration to study the complete COVID-19 journey in WA

One in 5 worldwide estimated to have increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions

Publicly released: Tue 16 Jun 2020 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Global Health

An estimated 1. 7 billion people, 22 per cent of the world population, have at least one underlying health condition that could increase their risk of severe COVID-19 if infected, ... In New Zealand and Read more about One in 5 worldwide estimated to have increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions

Social distancing might impact teens the most

Publicly released: Mon 15 Jun 2020 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

Teens may be more susceptible to negative psychological effects of physical distancing during COVID-19, as they are in a period of vulnerability where peer interaction is a vital aspect of Read more about Social distancing might impact teens the most

Australia is “an island in a sea of measles”

Publicly released: Mon 15 Jun 2020 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

MJA

Measles is the most highly communicable human virus known. Compared with COVID-19, which has an R0 (the average number of secondary cases generated from a single case in a fully ... susceptible, freely Read more about Australia is “an island in a sea of measles”

Treatment plan helps keep young cancer patients home, eases pressure on UK health system during COVID-19

Publicly released: Sun 14 Jun 2020 at 2000 AEST, 2200 NZST

E Clinical Medicine

An Australian program that avoids hospital admission for some young cancer patients with a fever is helping to ease pressure on the UK health system during the COVID-19 crisis. ... The AUS-rule system, Read more about Treatment plan helps keep young cancer patients home, eases pressure on UK health system during COVID-19

New test detects coronavirus in 30 mins

Publicly released: Sat 13 Jun 2020 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS One

The current standard to test for SARS-CoV-2 requires expensive equipment and trained personnel only available in limited laboratories. ... The new test successfully detected the virus within 30 to 45 Read more about New test detects coronavirus in 30 mins