Expanded opportunity for COVID-19 testing

A few vehicles line up during COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. COVID Test Florida is doing the drive-thru testing in partnership with the Florida Department of Health Marion County, the First Baptist Church and Marion County Emergency Management with Genesis Reference Labs processing the COVID-19 tests in their lab. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County announced on Tuesday, Jan. 25, that local COVID-19 testing opportunities were being expanded.

CovidTestFL.Org, a COVID-19 mobile clinical testing service, will begin testing on Saturdays at the end of this week, starting on Jan. 29. The provider will make free testing available from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the First Baptist Church of Ocala. Those hours will continue until further notice.

CovidTestFL.Org will also maintain its regular hours for free drive-through testing, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the church, 2801 S.E. Maricamp Road. Call CovidTestFL.Org at 866-826-8430 for additional details about testing. They offer a diagnostic PCR COVID-19 test that provides results within three days via a text message or an email containing a link to results on a web portal. Expedited test results are available for an additional fee.

People who seek to be tested must enter the church parking lot entrance on S.E. 30^th Ave. To be tested, individuals should bring a valid photo ID; minors under age 18 will only be tested if a parent or legal guardian accompanies them.

People should be prepared to stay in their vehicles while awaiting testing. Additionally, testing can be done at private labs, physicians’ offices, pharmacies and walk-in clinics throughout Marion County.

For more information, call the Department of Health in Marion County at (352) 644-2590.