COVID-testing clinic nurses nominated for Thanks a Million campaign
Theatre nurse Souraya Farah has been working long hours to meet the demand at Sydney’s pop-up COVID-19 testing clinics. But she is happy to do it for the good of the community and that’s why she has been nominated for the Thanks a Million campaign.
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COVID-testing clinics have found themselves inundated with anxious Sydneysiders in the past few weeks.
Theatre nurse Souraya Farah has been testing people in clinics across Western Sydney since the beginning of the virus but recently was faced with a “never-ending line of cars”.
Ms Farah was testing at the Ash Road Sporting Complex pop-up clinic in Prestons, only six kilometres from the hotspot of Casula.
“On Monday and Tuesday I couldn’t see the end of the line all day and we had people waiting up to six hours,” Miss Farah told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We closed at 6pm and we had to turn a line of cars away to be tested at other sites.”
The Prestons testing centre experienced a decrease in testing demand on Thursday and Friday and six coronavirus testing clinics are set to close this weekend in southwestern Sydney.
“Friday has been steadier, we still have people queuing in the line but we’re getting everyone through,” she said.
Ms Farah has worked in a number of testing clinics in Western Sydney since March including Narellan, Camden, Bankstown, Fairfield and Cabramatta.
The frontline health worker said she has been working longer hours in the last couple of weeks due to higher demand for testing but is “happy to give the time and look after the community”.
“I guess you just have to take on the challenge, whatever is required from you to keep everyone safe,” Miss Farah said.
Sorcha Thorton, 26, has been working at the Bondi pop-up clinic, which has tested more than 20,000 people since April.
“From Thursday onwards we had anybody coming in to get tested, symptomatic or asymptomatic,” Ms Thorton told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We get a lot of people that are quite anxious but we’re just there to reassure them and educate them during such an uncertain time.”
The two women have been nominated for News Corp Australia’s Thanks a Million campaign, which honours those who have put their safety and lives on the line keeping us safe.
The campaign invites readers to show their gratitude to anyone — from retail to teachers and posties, to a kind next door neighbour — whose work and community spirit has helped keep Australia going through savage bushfires and now the coronavirus pandemic.
Published across all News Corp Australia state-based, regional and community news titles — the campaign will culminate in a national digital honour wall on News Corp Australia websites, with names also published in printed newspapers across the country.
Nominate someone today at thanksamillion.net.au