WAUKESHA, Wisc., (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- County-sponsored COVID-19 testing sites in Wisconsin are seeing a surge in traffic due to the rise in positive cases in the area.

The testing site at the Waukesha County Expo Center was forced to close early Tuesday due to overwhelming demand.

Testing operations resumed there on Wednesday morning. Shortly after the site opened two long lines of vehicles began forming at the Expo Center parking lot.

“I think this is great; yesterday I understand they ran out of tests. I hope they don’t run out before I get up there today,” says Bryan O'Connor, a Waukesha resident. 

O'Connor says that despite not having any symptoms, he decided getting tested was imperative since he was near someone who recently learned they were exposed.

“Someone tested positive where my daughter works and I visited her, so I thought I’d get tested," says O'Connor.

Seniors like O'Connor do not want to take any chances or potentially contribute to the spread. O'Connor says this is especially true for him because he is due for a visit to his family and a playdate with his grandson.

“I have a grandson and another son and daughter-in-law that I would like to be able to visit, but not until I’m clear of the virus," says O'Connor.

The spike in newly confirmed cases in the area is another reason he hopes more people will take advantage of free testing and learn their COVID-19 status.

“I’m very happy that they have a testing site here as the virus seems to be spreading...We can eliminate any possibility of coming down with it.”

He says he feels grateful for people who want to protect the health of one another by wearing masks.

“Wearing masks: I’d like to see more of that around here, when you’re in a group, when you’re with anybody else, when you go shopping and things…It made me feel much more secure that everyone was wearing a mask," he says.

COVID-19 testing at the Waukesha County Expo Center site is free of charge. No appointment or insurance is necessary.

The site is testing patients until they run out of test kits on days of operation. The next scheduled two-day drive-through testing with the Wisconsin National Guard at the Expo Center will be on July 27 and July 28 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.