Nearly 100 new COVID-19 testing sites are going up around the state, run by local health departments.

The state will provide funding to help those sites stay up and running for the next two years.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said every local health department was invited to apply for the grant funding to help jumpstart COVID-19 testing – and most did.

“Some counties opted not to take the funding because they have other testing available,” Box said. “Other counties have partnered together or with a health care provider in their community to offer testing.”

Ten counties – including the state’s five most populous – are opening multiple sites.

Box said Hoosiers will not have to pay for testing at the new sites. Some locations will open by the end of the week, with all 95 scheduled to do so by Oct. 1.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.