OCALA, Fla.—Because of a reduction in the demand for COVID-19 testing, Statlab Mobile, a COVID-19 mobile clinical testing service, will no longer offer free drive-through testing at the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park in Ocala.

Testing also ended at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala on Oct. 11.

CovidTestFL.Org, a COVID-19 mobile clinical testing service, continues to provide extended-hours testing opportunities in Marion County. Call CovidTestFL.Org at 866-826-8430 for details.

“We want to thank Statlab Mobile, the Florida Horse Park and the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion for partnering with us, and helping ensure Marion County residents had multiple opportunities for testing during the pandemic,” said Department of Health in Marion County Administrator Mark Lander.

“Such partnerships have been invaluable in our efforts to provide Marion County residents with rapid, responsive COVID-19 testing.”  

At First Baptist Church of Ocala, 2801 SE Maricamp Road, CovidTestFL.Org offers free drive-through testing. Testing is available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

CovidTestFL.Org, a COVID-19 mobile clinical testing service, offers a diagnostic PCR COVID-19 test that provides results within three days via a text message or email containing a link to results on a web portal. People who do not have access to email can obtain results by Expedited test results are available for an additional fee.

People who seek to be tested must enter the church parking lot entrance on SE 30th Ave. To be tested, individuals should bring a valid photo ID; minors under age 18 will only be tested if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

People should be prepared to stay in their vehicles while awaiting testing. Only people who are being tested should be in the vehicle, with the exception of parents, guardians, or caregivers. No pets are permitted in the vehicle during tests.

Additionally, testing can be done at private labs, physicians’ offices, pharmacies and walk-in clinics throughout Marion County.  

Vaccine opportunities

The department provides walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. at its main office (1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala). Appointments are also available at the main office Monday through Friday. To make a vaccination appointment go to https://tinyurl.com/MakeMarionFLVaxAppt. Walk-ins are also available.

Positivity rate remains below 10%

According to the most recent state report, Marion County is reporting 56,318 cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of October 14. This is an increase of 313 cases from the previous week. Of Marion COVID-19 cases from Oct. 8–14, 5.6% tested positive. The daily positivity rate for all new COVID-19 cases in Florida was 3.8%.

Marion’s cases and positivity rates continue to decrease. From COVID-19 cases reported over the past seven days (cases reported Oct. 8–14), Marion saw:

• An average of 43.1 new cases per day
• 5.6% positivity rate.
• A total of 736 people vaccinated

From COVID-19 cases reported over the previous seven days (cases reported Oct. 1–7), Marion saw:

• An average of 61 new cases per day
• 6.9% positivity rate
• A total of 928 people vaccinated

From COVID-19 cases reported Sept. 24–30, Marion saw:

• An average of 87.7 new cases per day
• 9.1% positivity rate.
• A total of 825 people vaccinated

From COVID-19 cases reported Sept. 18–23), Marion saw:

• An average of 148.3 new cases per day
• 13.3% positivity rate.
• A total of 1,106 people vaccinated

From COVID-19 cases reported Sept. 10–16, Marion saw:

• An average of 220.4 new cases per day
• 17.9% positivity rate.
• A total of 1,636 people vaccinated

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

Find out more

Visit https://marion.floridahealth.gov,www.marionflcovid.org and www.twitter.com/flhealthmarion for the latest information on COVID-19 and vaccinations. Visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov and use the Vaccine Locator and Testing Sites tools to find vaccination and testing sites near you.