STARK COUNTY, Ohio — A community COVID-19 testing site opens Tuesday at the Stark County Fairgrounds in an effort from local health officials to make tests more available.

Testing will be offered at a first come, first serve basis. Individuals must make an appointment, which they can do so by clicking here. As of Tuesday morning, slots are open from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Jan. 14.

The site is in partnership with the Ohio National Guard, Aultman Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Stark County Emergency Management Agency and some local health departments. 

It's one of a handful that have been launched in recent months as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to climb in Ohio and across the nation. In the East Central region of the state, which includes Stark County, around half of the more than 1,300 patients have COVID, according to the Ohio Hopsital Association.

Statewide, 6,747 patients have COVID, which is one in three patients. More than 1,200 people are in intensive care units because of COVID-19, according to the Ohio Hospital Association. More than 800 people are on ventilators. 

On Monday, the state reported 18,042 new COVID-19 cases — the second time Ohio has recorded below 19,000 single-day cases since the end of December, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The 21-day case average now sits at just above 16,000. 

Northeast Ohio continues to bear the brunt of the virus, recording the most cases and hospitalizations in the state. More than 2,300 Ohio National Guard members have been deployed, mostly to hospitals in the northern part of the state, to assist health professionals.