Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, that has not been previously identified in humans. See below for a collection of resources to help you cover this issue (Please note: additional resources are available to journalists who are logged in).

The AusSMC also issues a daily COVID-19 update for registered journalists (click here to view an example). If you would like to receive this email, please go to your profile on MyScimex and select yes beside "Receive COVID-19 Updates?". The email update and this resources page are supported by the Google News Initiative.

Latest COVID-19 news, research, expert reactions and briefings

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  1. MRNA could be used to target Alzheimer’s disease

    Publicly released: Fri 29 Mar 2024 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

    Brain Communications

    To date, mRNA has been predominantly used for vaccines, including those used to fight COVID-19. ... enhance targeting of toxic molecules in the brain and improve patient outcomes compared to conventional Read more about MRNA could be used to target Alzheimer’s disease

    Australia; International; VICFlorey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health...

  2. A once a year COVID-19 vax with an extra jab for high risk people could be the right vaccine strategy

    Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2024 at 0800 AEDT | 1000 NZDT

    Annals of Internal Medicine

    1. Annual vaccination campaign with second dose protects high-risk groups from SARS-CoV-2 and may save health care costs Implementing an annual vaccination campaign, coupled with administering a Read more about A once a year COVID-19 vax with an extra jab for high risk people could be the right vaccine strategy

    InternationalYale Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis, USA

  3. EXPERT REACTION: Chemicals in some disinfectants and flame retardants damage supporting cells of the brain in the lab

    Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2024 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

    Nature Neuroscience

    The researchers also found links between kids with greater exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and higher rates of gross motor dysfunction and the need for special education. ... People are Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Chemicals in some disinfectants and flame retardants damage supporting cells of the brain in the lab

    InternationalCase Western Reserve University, USA

  4. Greater job flexibility and security helps keep psychological distress and anxiety low

    Publicly released: Tue 26 Mar 2024 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    The authors suggest that implementing workplace changes and policies that increase job flexibility and security may reduce work-related stress and facilitate improved employee mental health. Read more about Greater job flexibility and security helps keep psychological distress and anxiety low

    InternationalBoston University, USA

  5. Did tightened PBS restrictions on opioid supply reduce their use in Australia?

    Publicly released: Mon 25 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    Medical Journal of Australia

    These new restrictions – aligned with changes made by Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – aimed to reduce the amount of prescription opioids in the Read more about Did tightened PBS restrictions on opioid supply reduce their use in Australia?

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales

  6. Meta’s success in suppressing misinformation on Facebook is patchy at best

    Publicly released: Fri 22 Mar 2024 at 1550 AEDT | 1750 NZDT

    Media International Australia

    The content moderation policy adopted by Meta at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic to rein in misinformation on Facebook has proved no great obstacle to users capable to finding ... The paper, Labelling, Read more about Meta’s success in suppressing misinformation on Facebook is patchy at best

    Australia; International; NSWUniversity of Technology Sydney (UTS)|The University of Sydney

  7. Deadline for global pandemic agreement looms

    Publicly released: Fri 22 Mar 2024 at 1103 AEDT | 1303 NZDT

    In the throes of the Covid-19 disaster which, officially, claimed 7 million lives and wiped $2 trillion from the world economy, inter-governmental negotiations to reach international agreement on Read more about Deadline for global pandemic agreement looms

    Australia; New Zealand; InternationalWorld Health Organization (WHO)

  8. Antibiotic resistance in treating UTIs highest in aged care facilities

    Publicly released: Thu 21 Mar 2024 at 1100 AEDT | 1300 NZDT

    Open Forum Infectious Diseases

    Sydney. New research, recently published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases, also found that antibiotic resistance in UTIs reduced over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... These samples Read more about Antibiotic resistance in treating UTIs highest in aged care facilities

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales

  9. Can mRNA vaccines help boost livestock production?

    Publicly released: Thu 21 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    Vaccines

    UQ’s Professor Tim Mahony said it was vital for the livestock industry to take advantage of the unprecedented investment in mRNA vaccination technology triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about Can mRNA vaccines help boost livestock production?

    Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland

  10. EXPERT REACTION: 'Per capita' needs to go, say researchers

    Publicly released: Wed 20 Mar 2024 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

    Royal Society Open Science

    Using three global datasets (GDP, COVID-related mortality, and CO2 production), we show that this approach does not normalize differences in population size, but systematically overestimates values Read more about EXPERT REACTION: 'Per capita' needs to go, say researchers

    InternationalCharles University, Czech Republic

  11. 'Double jointed'? You may be at a higher risk of long COVID

    Publicly released: Wed 20 Mar 2024 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

    BMJ Public Health

    Pulling from data from a COVID Symptom Study Biobank, the team looked at 3064 people who had been infected with COVID-19 and pulled out data about their hypermobility. ... They were 30% more likely not to Read more about 'Double jointed'? You may be at a higher risk of long COVID

    InternationalBrighton and Sussex Medical School, UK

  12. WMO says 2023 was hottest year on record - by a lot

    Publicly released: Wed 20 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    Data are from six data setsThe number of people who are acutely food insecure worldwide has more than doubled, from 149 million people before the COVID-19 pandemic to 333 million ... The report cites Read more about WMO says 2023 was hottest year on record - by a lot

    InternationalWorld Meteorological Organization (WMO)

  13. AI psychotherapy could help those struggling to reach out

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Mar 2024 at 1800 AEDT | 2000 NZDT

    Lecture Notes in Computer Science (book)

    I definitely think this has the potential to help – especially after COVID – we had that experience, and there are still a lot of things online now,” she said. ... The proposed program uses an Read more about AI psychotherapy could help those struggling to reach out

    AustraliaMurdoch University

  14. ‘Climate rollercoaster’: strong weather fluctuations rocked Australia in 2023

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Mar 2024 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

    Meanwhile, 2023 saw Earth record its highest temperatures ever seen in the atmosphere and the oceans, the least sea ice ever observed, and a rapid increase in sea level. ... resurging since COVID-19. Read more about ‘Climate rollercoaster’: strong weather fluctuations rocked Australia in 2023

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; SA; WA; TAS; NT; ACTThe Australian National University

  15. Animal activity changed in unexpected ways during lockdown

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Mar 2024 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

    Nature Ecology and Evolution

    Some mammals were more active in developed areas and also exhibited greater nocturnality during COVID-19 lockdowns when human activity was also high, a paper published in Nature Ecology & Read more about Animal activity changed in unexpected ways during lockdown

    InternationalUniversity of British Columbia, Canada

  16. 2 in 5 people worldwide are experiencing some sort of neurological disorder

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 1030 AEDT | 1230 NZDT

    The Lancet Neurology

    The researchers analysed the prevalence of a long list of nervous system (neurological) conditions, including intellectual disabilities, brain or movement impairments, epilepsy, migraines and even Read more about 2 in 5 people worldwide are experiencing some sort of neurological disorder

    Australia; International; NSW; VIC; QLD; SAThe University of New South Wales|University of Technology Sydney (UTS)...

  17. EXPERT REACTION: Long COVID may be no different to other long term virus effects

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

    European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

    to stem from the sheer number of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 within a short period of time, rather than the severity of long COVID symptoms or functional impairment. ... They also note that the risk Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Long COVID may be no different to other long term virus effects

    Australia; QLDQueensland Government

  18. Common viruses trigger most cases of intussusception in children

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

    Clinical Infectious Diseases

    The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, found during the COVID-19 lockdowns hospital admissions for intussusception, a Read more about Common viruses trigger most cases of intussusception in children

    Australia; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)|The University of Melbourne

  19. New ‘microcombs’ dreamt up under lockdown

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Mar 2024 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

    Nature Photonics

    A NZ-led international collaboration reports an entirely new approach to this existing technology that was first theorised in Aotearoa during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. ... the University Read more about New ‘microcombs’ dreamt up under lockdown

    New Zealand; InternationalDodd-Walls Centre|University of Auckland

  20. Covid rebound could have different causes

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Mar 2024 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    However, a rebound in viral loads didn’t necessarily mean someone would feel their Covid symptoms return, and vice versa. ... The author team says symptom rebound could have several other causes, and Read more about Covid rebound could have different causes

    InternationalNational Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, China; See PDF for full list of author affiliations

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