WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The omicron variant continues to be the dominant strain of coronavirus and cases continue to rise.
Now efforts are ramping up to help people looking to get tested for COVID-19.
Thousands of at-home COVID-19 test kits are being given out Friday to people in various parts of Palm Beach County on Friday.
MORE: 'Lack of demand' to blame for up to 1 million COVID-19 test kits expiring, Florida's governor says
The distribution at the Dyer Park site began at about 9:30 a.m. because a line of cars started backing into the main road. Originally the distribution was supposed to start at 10 a.m.
LOCATIONS:
Jupiter Community Park (Friday Only)
3377 Church Street, Jupiter
Dyer Park
7301 N. Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach
John Prince Park
2700 6th Avenue South, Lake Worth
Commons Park
1600 Poinciana Blvd, Royal Palm Beach
Glades Pioneer Park
866 State Road 715, Belle Glade
West Delray Regional Park
10875 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach
City of Boca Raton Administration Complex
6500 Congress Ave., Boca Raton
"Two people within our household have been traveling, and we've been feeling a little bit symptomatic," said Katie Piekielsky, who received a test kit. "We've been looking probably for the past five days to get a test scheduled at the local Walgreens or CVS, and also even buying an at-home test kit, and everything is sold out, so it's been really difficult."
The kits are being handed out in a drive-thru method.
"This is wonderful, great news for us. Because now we can ... take the test fast because sometimes they say five days. Five days is too late," said Ofelia Daza, who was first in line to receive a test kit. "We have four children and 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. ... We have to be sure that everything is OK."
For more info on COVID-19 testing, visit the Palm Beach County COVID-19 website or contact the Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center, available 24/7, at 1(866) 779-6121 or email: COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
Keep in mind they are only for Palm Beach County residents, so you will have to show proof of residency before you receive a kit.
The kits are being given out on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to two kits per household.
The kits will be handed out until 2 p.m. or until the supply runs out.
Distribution will continue on Saturday at all but the Jupiter Community Park location.