As more testing sites become overcrowded with less tests available, a new one has been opened in Osceola. The testing site is available for families to get either a rapid antigen or a PCR test. The site will be open 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The new site will help out students and families in Osceola County, which has a 35.14% rate of COVID cases, one of the highest in the state, almost being tied with Orange County where the rate is 36.4%.

“With COVID-19, we’ve made it to the life raft. Dry land is far away,” said Mark Lipsitch, epidemiologist, in March.

As COVID cases are increasing, and variants are becoming more transmissible, experts are saying regular masks and cloth masks won’t work anymore and urging people to upgrade to KN95 masks. Even though cases have been rising and falling, the average death toll has gone up with an average of about 92 deaths per day and 642 deaths from the past week.

Appointments will be needed at this testing site, and you can schedule one at the Northshore Clinical Lab’s website. Tests are also available at the county health department office and local pharmacies.