The COVID-19 testing site at Osceola Heritage Park is now open, and will remain open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It is a free walk-up site in front of Osceola County Stadium; enter the park off Bill Beck Boulevard across the street from Gateway High School and park on the right.
You must pre-register; do so at this link: https://curative.com/sites/31240. According to the website, hundreds of times are still available this afternoon (Friday, Aug. 13). Keep in mind that you are making a reservation more than an appointment; the system is to log people into a line.
On the website, you will be asked if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, if you think you've been exposed to someone who is positive for the virus, if you work in a field that puts you in contact with many in the public (i.e. grocery store, transit driver), and then for your information. This takes less than 10 minutes.
Wait times this morning, for people who arrived between 9-10 a.m., were in the 30-45 minute range. When the tested reach a booth, they are given the nasal swab to "do the deed" themselves and return it to a technician. Results will be emailed within 24-48 hours.
All walks of people were in the Friday morning line — senior citizens, the middle-age, the college-age sector, and whole families, as children are able be tested as well. The weather wasn't too bad in the morning. The usual warmth and humidity was joined by a cooling breeze. The warmest you'll be is when you return to your car afterwards. The smart ones coming out brought umbrellas for self-shading. The really resourceful people brought a small folding camp chair or stool.
Chris Coburn of Kissimmee came out because he knew he'd be able to get a test — demand has skyrocketed in the last couple of weeks because of the rapid spread of the delta variant.
"I wanted to make sure I'm okay," he said, noting he felt fine, and that the process went smoothly.
Testing also is available at the Florida Department of Health in Osceola and local pharmacies. Information on testing locations throughout Osceola is available at www.Osceola.org/covid19testing. COVID-19 vaccinations are widely available at local pharmacies – such as CVS, Walgreens, Publix and Walmart; urgent care facilities and provider offices. The Florida Department of Health also offers vaccinations at no cost. Find vaccination locations, such as the back-to-school event in partnership with the Florida Department of Helath at Solid Rock Church on South Michigan Avenue in Kissimmee on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.at www.Osceola.org/covid19vaccinations.
Check back to www.AroundOsceola.com for further updates during the weekend and next week.
