They were some moments of levity during a long campaign on the front line.
Nurses and admin staff at the West Belconnen COVID-19 testing centre made a video to ABBA's classic Dancing Queen, emphasising the need for the Canberra community to remain vigilant and keep getting tested.
The 'COVID Queens' showed their moves in their personal protective equipment. And the lyrics were cleverly shaped to the COVID-19 safety message.
Monday morning and the queues are loooong
Swabs are ready and the PPE's onnnn
Tell me, what are your symptoms. Where have you been? Was it overseas?
Palliative care nurse Julie Barlow, then a team leader at West Belconnen, came up with the COVID Queen lyrics and dance moves on her last day at the testing clinic.
She roped in her colleagues to appear in the video, who all stayed back after the clinic was closed to make the piece, which was filmed for them by an obliging security guard, the final result shared on the Canberra Health Services Facebook page.
"I'd be the first to admit us nurses in the video may be singing off-key but our nursing skills certainly hit the right note," Julie said.
We are the COVID Queens
Wash your hands
Stay in quarantine
COVID Queens
Cover up if you cough or sneeze
Clinical nurse consultant Kimberley Phelan, who had been at the testing clinic since July, said the nurses and staff all committed to the video as a way to continue the health and safety messages.
It also reflected the camaraderie among the staff who can test as many as 150 people in a day.
"I'm so happy to be a part of such a supportive team," she said.
"We have a strong rapport among one another and we understand one another. We understand the challenges of wearing PPE but we look out for each other and we take regular breaks and stay hydrated and have down time when required.
"And we love working with the Canberra community and keeping them safe."
Registered nurse Patricia Cid said it was a thrill to be in the video. Her impression, so far, was that Canberrans were not becoming complacent about being tested should they have any symptoms, even with no reported cases of COVID-19 in the ACT.
"They don't want to be that person who has COVID and they're actually recognising it's good to get tested and keeping everyone safe, not just yourself, but your family and everyone else in the community," she said.
Working at the COVID-19 testing centre was the very first job for newly-graduated registered nurse Marisha Christian.
"Every day is different, but every day it's an honour," she said.
"I'm so grateful to be part of Canberra Health Services and the Canberra community. Everyone is so vigilant and they want to look out for themselves and the staff as well. They will come in a say 'hello' and they always go out saying 'thank you' and they are so grateful for the services we provide. So, yeah, that's like the cherry on top for us."
Wear a mask
Wear a mask
Until your symptoms are gone
Ooooh
Ms Phelan said the COVID-19 test was now less invasive and encouraged anyone with symptoms such as a cough, fever, sore throat shortness of breath to get tested.
"People might even think it's just a cold or it's just hay fever but those are the symptoms of COVID and it's so important to come down and have a quick, easy test. It's certainly a more pleasant test, less invasive," she said.
"The swab is thinner, we don't go back as far, and it's more a tickling sensation in the nose."
The test took about 15 minutes and a result was known within one to two days.
We don't want to share your germs
Don't spread it, there's no vaccine
Looking out for each other
That's what you do
Ms Phelan had been involved in infection control both in Australia and the United Kingdom.
"So all the experience and knowledge, I'm thriving on it now. I'm really, really happy to be working here," she said.
The video was just another highlight.
"The adrenaline was running for days and days," she said.
"Even when I was getting ready in the morning, I just hear the lyrics and it brings a smile to my face."
Denise McInnes, who has worked at the Canberra Hospital for 17 years, was seconded to be team leader in administration at the West Belconnen COVID-19 testing clinic.
She was also in the video and very happy to be there to spread the message of vigilance.
"I'd still like people to get tested because I go to the shops and people are sneezing and saying it's just a cold, but how do you know?" she said.
But perhaps the biggest fan of the video was Ms Christian's mum.
"Every time she addresses me as the COVID Queen," the young nurse said, with a laugh.
