Before the holiday

  • Individuals who wish to receive COVID-19 test results by Thursday, November 25th (Thanksgiving) should consider testing from Saturday, November 20th to Monday, November 22nd.
    • Please note that the testing site at the Mesa County Fairgrounds is open Saturday, November 20th, from 9 am to 12 pm but is closed Sunday and Monday as part of regular operating hours.
    • Additional community testing options can be found on the MCPH website.
  • In observance of the holiday, the testing site located at the Mesa County Fairgrounds will be closed Thursday, November 25th through Saturday, November 27th, and will reopen Tuesday, November 30th.

Planning a safe gathering

  • Getting a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine before gathering with others is the single best way to prevent the spread of the virus. 
  • Some adults 18 and older who are fully vaccinated should also now get booster doses to stay protected. 
  • If it has been at least six months since you got your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or at least two months since you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you should get a booster dose. 
  • You can get any type of vaccine for your booster dose. It doesn’t have to be the same type as the vaccine you already received.
  • In addition to vaccination, you can make the holidays safer for everyone by:
    • Hosting an outdoor gathering, which is generally safer than an indoor gathering.
    • Keeping the guest list short. Smaller groups are generally safer than larger groups.
    • Considering a shorter celebration. Shorter gatherings are generally safer than longer gatherings. 
    • Remind guests to stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, are positive for COVID-19, or have had recent close contact with someone with COVID-19.
    • Follow CDC’s Guidance for traveling safely during the COVID-19 pandemic

Feel sick post holiday gathering? Get tested

  • If you experience COVID-19 symptoms after your holiday gathering, you are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. 
  • Keep in mind that turnaround times for results may be longer than usual due to holiday lab closures. 
  • If you develop symptoms before local testing sites reopen, or while waiting for results, isolate until you confirm your illness status. 
  • Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea
  • If you are exposed to a person with COVID-19 and you do not have symptoms get tested 5-7 days after your potential exposure.
  • Other respiratory viruses, in addition to COVID-19, circulate this time of year. If you have symptoms of any kind please do not go to work, school, child care, or large gatherings to prevent the spread of illness.