Masks are back in the spotlight as Victoria has tightened its guidelines about what face coverings are allowed.

Originally, people were allowed to use a face mask, scarf, bandana or face shield - but not anymore. Now only fitted face masks are allowed.

Throughout the pandemic there has been mixed messaging on how important they are in the fight against COVID-19.

Today, what you need to know about face shields and washing masks to help protect yourself and others.

Also on today's research roundup episode:

* A study on if a baby can catch coronavirus from breast milk

* A study on the best way to point the nose swab used for COVID testing

* Can SARS-CoV-2 develop resistance to the drug Remdesivir

* The best way to communicate social-distancing and other public health messages

* And what do we know about getting infected by SARS-CoV-2 from meat

The average number of daily coronavirus cases in Melbourne has plateaued in recent days.

It's raised concerns that the city won't be able to open up as fast as it had hoped.

But the number of cases is now about equal to what it was in NSW several months ago, but Sydney didn't have any lockdowns and managed to keep control.

So why is it that Victoria still can't open up?

On today's show:

* Looking at NSW stats around mid-July, there were 15/18/14/20 new coronavirus cases a day. It never escalated. No lockdown & life was covid-normal. Why isn't that happening now in Victoria on their current numbers?

* How is metro Melbourne going to get to the third step?

* Some kids are going back to school in Melbourne today - what do we know about how infectious kids are?

* Is President Trump out of the woods?

And Norman and Tegan talk about some CSIRO research about SARS-CoV-2 and surfaces.

The average number of daily coronavirus cases in Melbourne has plateaued in recent days.

It's raised concerns that the city won't be able to open up as fast as it had hoped.

But the number of cases is now about equal to what it was in NSW several months ago, but Sydney didn't have any lockdowns and managed to keep control.

So why is it that Victoria still can't open up?

On today's show:

* Looking at NSW stats around mid-July, there were 15/18/14/20 new coronavirus cases a day. It never escalated. No lockdown & life was covid-normal. Why isn't that happening now in Victoria on their current numbers?

* How is metro Melbourne going to get to the third step?

* Some kids are going back to school in Melbourne today - what do we know about how infectious kids are?

* Is President Trump out of the woods?

And Norman and Tegan talk about some CSIRO research about SARS-CoV-2 and surfaces.

The average number of daily coronavirus cases in Melbourne has plateaued in recent days.

It's raised concerns that the city won't be able to open up as fast as it had hoped.

But the number of cases is now about equal to what it was in NSW several months ago, but Sydney didn't have any lockdowns and managed to keep control.

So why is it that Victoria still can't open up?

On today's show:

* Looking at NSW stats around mid-July, there were 15/18/14/20 new coronavirus cases a day. It never escalated. No lockdown & life was covid-normal. Why isn't that happening now in Victoria on their current numbers?

* How is metro Melbourne going to get to the third step?

* Some kids are going back to school in Melbourne today - what do we know about how infectious kids are?

* Is President Trump out of the woods?

And Norman and Tegan talk about some CSIRO research about SARS-CoV-2 and surfaces.

One of the big unknowns with coronavirus to date is how much it's mutating and how that could hurt the effectiveness of a vaccine.

The worry is that by the time scientists have found a vaccine and tested it, the virus would have already changed rendering the vaccine ineffective.

The dominant coronavirus strain is known as the "G strain", which has a mutation right where vaccines are targeting.

So what does this mean for the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine?

On today's show:

* What has the CSIRO found regarding coronavirus' "G strain"?

* Another study has found that antibodies can disappear after three months. What does this mean for longer term immunity?

* NSW records more COVID cases than Victoria

* An update from the White House. How is President Trump tracking?

One of the big unknowns with coronavirus to date is how much it's mutating and how that could hurt the effectiveness of a vaccine.

The worry is that by the time scientists have found a vaccine and tested it, the virus would have already changed rendering the vaccine ineffective.

The dominant coronavirus strain is known as the "G strain", which has a mutation right where vaccines are targeting.

So what does this mean for the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine?

On today's show:

* What has the CSIRO found regarding coronavirus' "G strain"?

* Another study has found that antibodies can disappear after three months. What does this mean for longer term immunity?

* NSW records more COVID cases than Victoria

* An update from the White House. How is President Trump tracking?

NSW Health authorities are urging people across Sydney with even the mildest symptoms to get tested, as they continue contact tracing three new mysterious cases.

After 12 days straight of no community transmission, the three new cases have popped up in different parts of the city.

Testing rates in NSW have plummeted recently, despite the virus still circulating in the community.

So how did Sydney go for nearly a fortnight of no community cases, only to get three all at once?

Also on today's show:

* Why are cases suddenly popping up in NSW after almost two weeks of no community transmission?

* A big group of doctors have published a letter saying lockdown measures are causing more harm than good

* Good news in Victoria as yesterday's case numbers went down again, and cases with health care workers also continues to drop

* And how do Australian health authorities approve vaccines? Do they just rubber stamp them if they are approved in the United States?

NSW Health authorities are urging people across Sydney with even the mildest symptoms to get tested, as they continue contact tracing three new mysterious cases.

After 12 days straight of no community transmission, the three new cases have popped up in different parts of the city.

Testing rates in NSW have plummeted recently, despite the virus still circulating in the community.

So how did Sydney go for nearly a fortnight of no community cases, only to get three all at once?

Also on today's show:

* Why are cases suddenly popping up in NSW after almost two weeks of no community transmission?

* A big group of doctors have published a letter saying lockdown measures are causing more harm than good

* Good news in Victoria as yesterday's case numbers went down again, and cases with health care workers also continues to drop

* And how do Australian health authorities approve vaccines? Do they just rubber stamp them if they are approved in the United States?

NSW Health authorities are urging people across Sydney with even the mildest symptoms to get tested, as they continue contact tracing three new mysterious cases.

After 12 days straight of no community transmission, the three new cases have popped up in different parts of the city.

Testing rates in NSW have plummeted recently, despite the virus still circulating in the community.

So how did Sydney go for nearly a fortnight of no community cases, only to get three all at once?

Also on today's show:

* Why are cases suddenly popping up in NSW after almost two weeks of no community transmission?

* A big group of doctors have published a letter saying lockdown measures are causing more harm than good

* Good news in Victoria as yesterday's case numbers went down again, and cases with health care workers also continues to drop

* And how do Australian health authorities approve vaccines? Do they just rubber stamp them if they are approved in the United States?

Victoria has hit a road bump on its pathway to reopening, recording 15 new cases of coronavirus yesterday as it tries to suppress a new outbreak.

The Chadstone cluster has continued to grow, and has spread to a regional town about 60km from Melbourne.

It comes as the state's Chief Health Officer has revealed that Melbourne's second wave appears to have focused on larger families.

So why are households with more than six people at the centre of this outbreak?

On today's show:

* How has an outbreak happened in Melbourne when it's supposed to be still under restrictions?

* In NSW, why were there so many cases yesterday in hotel quarantine?

* How significant is the risk that the steroid that President Trump is taking can lead to euphoria and affect his sense of well being?

* Norman has mentioned treating people on their stomachs a few times lately, what does he mean by that?