by Amanda Mayle | Nov 11, 2020 | COVID19, Public Health Recommendations
The FREE community sampling site operated by Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) for COVID-19 testing located at the Mesa County Fairgrounds will be open on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11.
You do not have to have an appointment, but pre-registration is encouraged. Information about how to register can be found on the Mesa County Public Health website. There are no identification or insurance requirements.
People with symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to get tested as soon as possible. Symptoms include:
- 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
Anyone who gets tested because of symptoms or because of a possible exposure should be in isolation or quarantine while waiting for the test result. All individuals who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine and limit their exposure to others for a full 14 days, even if they have been tested and the result is negative, since the virus can take up to two weeks to emerge.
Identifying illness early is a key component of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Testing is one part of the multi-pronged approach, and we must all take action to slow the spread of illness.
Mesa County Public Health urges all residents to avoid crowds, confined spaces, and close contact. COVID-19 spreads more easily in these environments and the risk of infections and outbreaks is higher when these factors overlap.
by Amanda Mayle | Oct 27, 2020 | News
Due to cold weather the Community Sampling Site for COVID-19 testing, located at the Mesa County Fairgrounds, is closing due to safety concerns and specimen integrity. The site is expected to reopen Wednesday, October 28.
Mesa County Public Health recommends anyone who may have been exposed to the virus get tested 7 days after exposure and quarantine for a full 14 days, regardless of test result. Testing is free for Mesa County residents and health insurance is not required.
Although no appointment is necessary, pre-registration will speed up the process once you arrive. Register online at the Mako Medical website. The turnaround time for results is between two to four days from the time the sample is received at the lab.
Additional testing information is available here.
by Amanda Mayle | May 13, 2020 | News
Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) will begin offering serological, or antibody, testing for COVID-19. This is a blood test that looks for antibodies in your blood. It can detect the body’s immune response to the infection caused by the virus, rather than detecting the virus itself.
Mesa County Public Health plans to use the tests for epidemiological purposes, broadening our understanding of the timeline and impacts of COVID-19 in our community. “Our case counts have remained low, leaving many to believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 even earlier than when the first case in Mesa County was detected,” Jeff Kuhr Executive Director, Mesa County Public Health, said. “These tests will help us put together a more complete picture of the virus in our local community, and could provide valuable information to help us plan should another wave of illness hit in the months ahead.”
It is important to note, as we learn more about this novel coronavirus, these types of tests should be used for research, not diagnostic purposes. That means regardless of the result you get, you should continue to take preventive measures. Much is still unknown about how long immunity may last following COVID-19, so we caution patients to not use this test, or the results they may get, as a false sense of security.
Only certain types of antibody tests are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test MCPH is using is approved under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization and results are available within a few days.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are distributing rapid test kits to detect antibodies, these tests have not been evaluated or approved for this type of use. Additionally, antibody tests may cross-react with other respiratory viruses resulting in false-positive results.
Mesa County Public Health will do blood draws by appointment. Fill out this form for pricing and to be contacted for scheduling.
