Resources for Journalists

Two thirds of the world likely had COVID-19 antibodies in their system by late 2021

Publicly released: Fri 11 Nov 2022 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS Medicine

In order to ascertain the true rates of infection and indicators of immunity in the population against SARS-CoV-2 over time, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of ... 2% in Read more about Two thirds of the world likely had COVID-19 antibodies in their system by late 2021

COVID lockdowns saw death rates drop in Australia, Assistant Minister's research shows

Publicly released: Fri 11 Nov 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

BMJ Global Health

4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015-2019, according to Australian research - conducted by MP Andrew Leigh the current Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury. ... The study also used Read more about COVID lockdowns saw death rates drop in Australia, Assistant Minister's research shows

Racism affects 40% of Asian New Zealanders

Publicly released: Fri 11 Nov 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

In Aotearoa and globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted racism in our society, including targeted anti-Asian hatred. ... Our study describes experiences of racism for Asian people in Aotearoa and Read more about Racism affects 40% of Asian New Zealanders

EXPERT REACTION: 4th COVID-19 wave

Publicly released: Thu 10 Nov 2022 at 1434 AEDT, 1634 NZDT

With COVID-19 infection rates back on the rise, Australia appears to be at the start of its fourth wave. ... Below, Australian experts discuss what's happening in the country, and whether we are in for a Read more about EXPERT REACTION: 4th COVID-19 wave

Masks in schools reduced COVID-19 transmission in the US

Publicly released: Thu 10 Nov 2022 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

Schools in the US that removed the requirement to wear masks saw higher COVID-19 transmission than schools that didn't, according to international researchers. ... The state of Massachusetts dropped a Read more about Masks in schools reduced COVID-19 transmission in the US

Climate change emissions from buildings and construction hit a new high

Publicly released: Wed 9 Nov 2022 at 2301 AEDT, 0101 NZDT

The building and construction sector’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions have rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic to an all-time high, a new UN Environment Programme report finds. ... peak in Read more about Climate change emissions from buildings and construction hit a new high

When lockdown forced us away from coral reefs, more fish took our place

Publicly released: Wed 9 Nov 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

Popular coral reefs at Moorea, French Polynesia saw an increase in fish visitors during COVID-19 lockdown, according to Australian, French Polynesian and international researchers. ... COVID-19 lockdown Read more about When lockdown forced us away from coral reefs, more fish took our place

Scientists say that COVID-19 increased public attention on research but not public understanding

Publicly released: Tue 8 Nov 2022 at 1053 AEDT, 1253 NZDT

on it, and the pandemic exploded the numbers of people who use research evidence by millions. ... Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,700+ journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our 43 Read more about Scientists say that COVID-19 increased public attention on research but not public understanding

Kids' screen time during the pandemic increased by more than 50%

Publicly released: Tue 8 Nov 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

Changes in Child, Adolescent Screen Time During Pandemic JAMA Pediatrics Original Investigation Assessment of Changes in Child and Adolescent Screen Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic About The Study: Read more about Kids' screen time during the pandemic increased by more than 50%

COVID-19 stress may be worsening endometriosis symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Reproduction and Fertility

Patients with endometriosis reported worse symptoms and impaired mental well-being during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic than before COVID-19 began, according to UK researchers. Read more about COVID-19 stress may be worsening endometriosis symptoms

Adaption gap: Efforts to adapt to climate change are not keeping pace with the growing risks

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 1047 AEDT, 1247 NZDT

International adaptation finance flows to developing countries are also 5-10 times below estimated needs and the gap continues to widen. ... Crises such as the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic Read more about Adaption gap: Efforts to adapt to climate change are not keeping pace with the growing risks

A man who had COVID-19 for 411 days is finally cured

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 1016 AEDT, 1216 NZDT

Clinical Infectious Diseases

2022. The researchers conducted a detailed genetic analysis of the virus and found that it was an early COVID-19 variant – a variation of the original Wuhan variant - but with multiple ... Rapid Read more about A man who had COVID-19 for 411 days is finally cured

A gene associated with lupus might protect against severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS Genetics

Scientists have observed a correlation between the genes associated with severe COVID-19 and those with SLE. ... Future studies will be needed to fully understand the genetic relationships between Read more about A gene associated with lupus might protect against severe COVID-19

One gene variant could increase your risk of severe COVID-19 by more than 5 times

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS Genetics

The team looked at genetic data for nearly 580,000 people across 12 countries, 5,085 of whom had severe COVID-19. ... They suggest larger studies on rare gene variants influencing COVID-19 outcomes could Read more about One gene variant could increase your risk of severe COVID-19 by more than 5 times

A blueprint to bring the pandemic to a close

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature

Recommendations on how to end the COVID-19 public health threat are published in Nature this week. ... As of September 2022, more than 620 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 6. Read more about A blueprint to bring the pandemic to a close

Diagnosing and managing Long COVID is a complicated business

Publicly released: Fri 4 Nov 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

They say there are no known tests or detectable markers for Long COVID, which can lead to ongoing monitoring, COVID-19 testing and medical referrals for patients thought to have the ... condition. They Read more about Diagnosing and managing Long COVID is a complicated business

Marsden Fund supports leading researchers in Aotearoa to explore new ideas

Publicly released: Thu 3 Nov 2022 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

These grants support excellent research in the humanities, engineering, mātauranga, mathematics, science, and the social sciences for three years. ... Of course, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Read more about Marsden Fund supports leading researchers in Aotearoa to explore new ideas

Chronic pain associated with poor health - and higher COVID-19 risk - decades later

Publicly released: Thu 3 Nov 2022 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS One

The team also found chronic pain was associated with lower life satisfaction, pessimism about the future, and poor sleep at age 55, as well as a higher risk of COVID-19 ... Chronic pain associated with Read more about Chronic pain associated with poor health - and higher COVID-19 risk - decades later

3 years in, COVID-19 may still be able to spread from humans back into bats

Publicly released: Wed 2 Nov 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

US scientists say the SARS-CoV-2 virus may still be able to spread from humans to other mammals, including back into the bats we think it came from, despite three ... Persistent cross-species SARS-CoV-2 Read more about 3 years in, COVID-19 may still be able to spread from humans back into bats

Gun violence across America: unexpected trends revealed

Publicly released: Wed 2 Nov 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Chaos

Only a handful of U. S. states showed a surge in gun violence incidents in mid-2020 during civil unrest at the start of COVID-19 lockdowns and the murder of ... S. media reported widespread violence and Read more about Gun violence across America: unexpected trends revealed