Resources for Journalists

A child or young person died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – UN report

Publicly released: Tue 10 Jan 2023 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

While COVID-19 has not directly increased childhood mortality – with children facing a lower likelihood of dying from the disease than adults – the pandemic may have increased future risks to Read more about A child or young person died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – UN report

Aussie year 11s and 12s had high rates of depression during the pandemic, despite few infections

Publicly released: Mon 9 Jan 2023 at 1500 AEDT, 1700 NZDT

Australian Journal of Social Issues

The authors say the mental health problems and poor levels of well-being occurred despite low rates of COVID-19 infection, suggesting that government policy responses contributed to the detrimental Read more about Aussie year 11s and 12s had high rates of depression during the pandemic, despite few infections

3D printing of single atom catalysts

Publicly released: Mon 9 Jan 2023 at 1135 AEDT, 1335 NZDT

Nature Synthesis

The research has been published in Nature Synthesis. The team mailed in samples to the Australian Synchrotron during the COVID lockdown for materials characterisation using the X-ray absorption Read more about 3D printing of single atom catalysts

Job losses increased and families' mental health worsened as Victoria's extended lockdown rolled on

Publicly released: Tue 27 Dec 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Australian Journal of Social Issues

As Victoria's initial COVID-19 lockdown extended to an ongoing lockdown in 2020, families in Victoria reported further job and income losses, and poorer mental health, according to Australian Read more about Job losses increased and families' mental health worsened as Victoria's extended lockdown rolled on

Merck's COVID-19 drug molnupiravir doesn't reduce deaths or hospitalisations but may speed up recovery

Publicly released: Fri 23 Dec 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The Lancet

Previous studies suggested that molnupiravir is effective at reducing hospital admissions in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 and WHO recommends its use for patients with the highest risk of Read more about Merck's COVID-19 drug molnupiravir doesn't reduce deaths or hospitalisations but may speed up recovery

Conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers more likely to believe 'tinfoil hat' reasons for cancer

Publicly released: Thu 22 Dec 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

The team surveyed close to 1,500 people, including 209 unvaccinated against COVID-19, 112 who preferred alternative rather than conventional medicine, and 62 who reported flat Earth or reptilian Read more about Conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers more likely to believe 'tinfoil hat' reasons for cancer

In the push and pull of crowds, disordered proteins dance precariously

Publicly released: Thu 22 Dec 2022 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

Science Advances

The best example of IDPs/IDRs is the spike protein within the envelope of the COVID virus: their adaptability not only enables them to latch onto a cell for viral entry ... on the shape, size, stability Read more about In the push and pull of crowds, disordered proteins dance precariously

Santa, it's time to phase out coal for naughty children

Publicly released: Tue 20 Dec 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

They say as today's children grapple with climate anxiety and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's time to be kind to one another and spend Christmas doing ... As the covid-19 pandemic, war, cost of Read more about Santa, it's time to phase out coal for naughty children

First results on the longer-term effects of therapies for the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19

Publicly released: Sat 17 Dec 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA

term. ” The 4869 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 were enrolled into the trial between March 9, 2020, and June 22, 2021, from 197 sites in 14 countries. ... Run by Monash University’s Read more about First results on the longer-term effects of therapies for the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19

No evidence of sudden hearing loss following vaccination against COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 16 Dec 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

A large international study found no evidence of an increase in the risk of hearing loss after the COVID-19 vaccine, according to researchers. ... A large previous study found an increased risk for sudden Read more about No evidence of sudden hearing loss following vaccination against COVID-19

COVID-19 virus can affect vision and depth perception

Publicly released: Thu 15 Dec 2022 at 1223 AEDT, 1423 NZDT

Nature Communications

The study found the eyes and the trigeminal nerves are susceptible to the virus and that (in animal models) SARS-CoV-2 can infect the eye through the respiratory tract, via ... understand how SARS-CoV-2 Read more about COVID-19 virus can affect vision and depth perception

Lost your taste and smell during COVID-19? You may have more antibodies in your system

Publicly released: Thu 15 Dec 2022 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The team tested the blood of 300 people who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic. ... Just over 60% of these participants reported altered taste and smell during their infection, and the researchers say Read more about Lost your taste and smell during COVID-19? You may have more antibodies in your system

WHO estimates 14.83 million deaths associated with COVID-19 from 2020 to 2021

Publicly released: Thu 15 Dec 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature

The World Health Organisation estimates suggest that there were 14. 83 million excess deaths associated with COVID-19 around the world between 2020 and 2021. ... Beyond what is directly attributed to COVID Read more about WHO estimates 14.83 million deaths associated with COVID-19 from 2020 to 2021

Why methane levels peaked while other greenhouses fell during COVID-19 lockdowns

Publicly released: Thu 15 Dec 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature

Methane levels hit a record high in 2020, despite COVID-19 lockdowns which were expected to put the breaks on emissions, and now international researchers think they know why. ... The authors report that Read more about Why methane levels peaked while other greenhouses fell during COVID-19 lockdowns

Maths problem: review finds shortage of teachers and researchers

Publicly released: Wed 14 Dec 2022 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

NCMS Chair Professor Alan Welsh FAA said the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the university sector had also resulted in notable losses to the mathematical sciences research community. ... COVID-19 Read more about Maths problem: review finds shortage of teachers and researchers

BMX, karate and skateboarding, ow my (arm)! New Olympic sports linked to highest injury rates

Publicly released: Wed 14 Dec 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

British Journal of Sports Medicine

But the sickness rate was lower. “This might largely be attributed to the extensive countermeasures put in place to mitigate COVID-19, effectively reducing transmission of COVID-19 and all Read more about BMX, karate and skateboarding, ow my (arm)! New Olympic sports linked to highest injury rates

The Tokyo Paralympics saw fewer injuries, but they were more severe

Publicly released: Wed 14 Dec 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

British Journal of Sports Medicine

The researchers can't say for sure why this is, but they suspect COVID-19 restrictions could have changed the way athletes prepare, and the new sports of taekwondo and badminton ... The Tokyo 2020 Read more about The Tokyo Paralympics saw fewer injuries, but they were more severe

Building capacity in digital health and informatics as COVID-19 years press on

Publicly released: Tue 13 Dec 2022 at 1727 AEDT, 1927 NZDT

International Journal of Medical Informatics

These two rapidly growing disciplines are becoming increasingly important to the sustainability of health service provision, as was highlighted through the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Flinders Read more about Building capacity in digital health and informatics as COVID-19 years press on

Ill health on the rise in Australia for the first time in 20 years

Publicly released: Tue 13 Dec 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Heart disease, dementia and back pain were the most common health burdens, with COVID-19 the eighth most common. ... 7%) and anxiety disorders (2. 9%). COVID-19 ranked 8th among the specific diseases. Read more about Ill health on the rise in Australia for the first time in 20 years

Revealing the recommended anticoagulant therapy for COVID-19 patients

Publicly released: Sun 11 Dec 2022 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine Evidence

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have been under-represented in Covid-19 studies and ASCOT is one of the few studies to have a major involvement of LMIC regions. ... allowed us to take the trial to Read more about Revealing the recommended anticoagulant therapy for COVID-19 patients