MILWAUKEE — With New Year’s Eve coming up this weekend, lines to get a COVID-19 test continue to be long.

The long lines continue at COVID-19 testing centers around Milwaukee. The city testing site on the north side had a line wrapping around the building and the bock an hour before it even opened on Tuesday.

Even before Christmas, COVID-19 testing sites around Milwaukee have seen an influx of people coming to get tested. Meanwhile, city leaders are urging people to get vaccinated.

“The most effective tool we have against COVID-19 is vaccination,” Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee's acting mayor, said.

Cavalier Johnson and commissioner of health Kirsten Johnson took a tour of the Northwest Health Center, one of three city testing sites in Milwaukee. They both took a look at the efforts being done to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Our positivity rate is over 20%. Our case numbers continue to climb and we will continue to see that if people continue to gather and continue to not mask indoors,” Kirsten Johnson said.

This past Monday, nearly 2,000 COVID-19 tests were done at the city testing sites alone. Milwaukee resident Cora Joyner showed up early on Tuesday to get in line for her booster.

“I’m here to get my booster so I won’t have to worry about really getting sick if the virus comes along and tries to attack me. I’ll be well prepared,” Joyner said.

She is just one of a handful in line to get vaccinated, while hundreds of others line the streets in their cars to get tested between Christmas and New Year's. 

“I think in January it’s going to be really bad. With everyone together for the holiday it’s going to be seriously bad,” Joyner said.

While there is no current thought to issue a mask mandate, health commissioner Johnson said the mask advisory is still in place and the city is urging people to wear a mask while indoors.

If you need a COVID-19 test in Wisconsin, click here.