Resources for Journalists

Antidepressant fluvoxamine does not speed up COVID-19 recovery

Publicly released: Fri 13 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA

There were no deaths in either group. These findings suggest fluvoxamine should not be used in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19, the authors conclude. ... These findings do not support the use Read more about Antidepressant fluvoxamine does not speed up COVID-19 recovery

COVID-19 now the 3rd highest cause of death in Australia

Publicly released: Thu 12 Jan 2023 at 1317 AEDT, 1517 NZDT

COVID-19 is now the 3rd highest cause of death in Australia, according to experts from OzSAGE, a broad group of experts looking at the well-being of Aussies before, during ... and after the COVID-19 Read more about COVID-19 now the 3rd highest cause of death in Australia

Most long covid symptoms after a mild infection are gone within a year

Publicly released: Thu 12 Jan 2023 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The BMJ

But the clinical effects of long covid one year after mild infection and their association with age, sex, covid-19 variants, and vaccination status are still unclear. ... Findings were similar across the Read more about Most long covid symptoms after a mild infection are gone within a year

COVID-19 antibody response may not be better after an Omicron-specific booster

Publicly released: Thu 12 Jan 2023 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

Vaccines designed specifically to target both the original COVID-19 variant and Omicron BA. ... Testing the participants' blood against multiple COVID-19 variants, the researchers say the strongest Read more about COVID-19 antibody response may not be better after an Omicron-specific booster

Paying people to get vaccinated likely not a bad option

Publicly released: Thu 12 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature

The team offered over 5,000 people in Sweden money to take the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and say that the cash did not affect the timing or ... of a COVID-19 vaccine did not affect the timing or Read more about Paying people to get vaccinated likely not a bad option

Music helped people get through the pandemic with lower stress levels

Publicly released: Wed 11 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

The researchers say we can learn from this and use music, especially 'happy music', to help us through other stressful periods of our lives. ... About The Study: Listening to music in daily life was Read more about Music helped people get through the pandemic with lower stress levels

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