Officials in Miami-Dade County have opened two new coronavirus testing sites and extended hours at Zoo Miami in response to an increased demand.

�We are working around the clock to make sure Miami-Dade residents have access to testing to protect themselves and their loved ones during the holiday season,� Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a news release on Tuesday.

She said the county has also distributed 152,000 take home rapid test kits.

�Our residents are doing the right thing by getting tested if they were exposed, have symptoms, or to take extra precautions during the holidays, and that�s why we are doing everything we can to expand access to testing countywide,� the mayor said.

The Zoo Miami site is open for testing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Ron Gon�alves, General Manager for NOMI Health Florida.

�We don�t have enough words to thank Nomi�s frontline workers who are putting their lives on the line in administering tens of thousands of tests and vaccines daily, working long hours � even during the holidays,� Goncalves said.

Overall, Florida has seen a sharp increase in new COVID-19 cases in the past week.

(AP)