Katherine Gibney, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity; Deborah Williamson, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity et Jodie McVernon, The University of Melbourne
A new test, which can diagnose COVID-19 in 15 minutes, has been approved by the TGA. But it’s no silver bullet.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus usually infects the body via the ACE2 protein. But there is another entry point that allows the virus to infect the nervous system and block pain perception.
Some insights into previous outbreaks of human coronaviruses may be useful in explaining the comparatively ‘low’ numbers of COVID-19 infections and mortality in people with HIV in South Africa.
A preliminary study published online this week estimates Australia had 60,000 undiagnosed COVID-19 infections by July. But there are a range of limitations to the study.
Using random testing, researchers in Indiana were able to calculate death rates by age, race, and sex and found sharp increases in risk of death among older and non-white state residents.
Lessons from history make clear that the federal government can spur medical innovation in a crisis, including this pandemic. Providing certainty and clarity is critical.
The Australian government is working with two major pharmaceutical companies to facilitate the local production and supply of two different COVID-19 vaccines – if they’re proven to be effective.
Precision medicine is often touted as the future of medicine. But so far, it hasn’t been helpful in the war against COVID-19. Here is how it could be used to tease apart the nuances of the disease.
Zoë McLaren, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The new BinaxNOW antigen test is quick, easy, accurate and cheap. It could solve the US testing problem, but the emergency use authorization only allows people with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested.
We have to balance the risk of transmission with the mental health challenges of lockdowns. A bubble system could alleviate loneliness while minimising infection risk.
Sewage surveillance is one technique that can alert authorities to the presence of a pathogen in the community. An environmental engineer explains the state of the science when it comes to SARS-CoV-2.
Could a commonly used mosquito repellent kill off coronavirus? Preliminary studies in the UK are encouraging — but that doesn’t mean you should reach for repellents to protect against COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation now recommends children aged 12 years and older wear masks and that masks should be considered for those aged 6-11 years.
Dean Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at University of the Witwatersrand; and Director of the SAMRC Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand