If you suspect you or a household member may have COVID-19, please stay at home and self-quarantine. If you develop symptoms, seek testing immediately.

You can also browse all COVID-19 testing sites.

• If you are experiencing ANY of the following: fever of 100.4°F or higher, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, chills, diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, congestion, stomach pain, or vomiting please call your primary care physician. Our COVID-19 Testing Site Finder can help you find a testing location that fits your needs.

AND/OR

• If you think or know you were exposed to someone with COVID-19

• At this time, we are not recommending that asymptomatic individuals (people without symptoms) who have not had a known exposure to COVID-19 receive testing. However, if an asymptomatic test is necessary, please visit our COVID-19 Testing Site Finder to find locations conducting asymptomatic testing.

As more testing sites are popping up around the Roaring Fork Valley, here are some tips about when and how to expect your test results…

• If yes, please reach out to your Primary Care Provider for your test results. Note that Pitkin County Public Health employees do not have the capacity to follow up on those who were not referred by us. 

• If yes, please reach out to Pitkin County Public Health and speak with the contact tracer that referred you or email disease control team at diseaseprevention@pitkincounty.com

• Aspen Airport
• Downtown Aspen
• Aspen Valley Primary Care, Basalt Office
• El Jebel/Eagle County Community Center
• Garfield County Roaring Fork School District Office, Glenwood Springs

Depending on the testing site, test turn-around-time can vary. Please be patient and expect results between 2-5 days.

Thank you for doing the responsible thing and accessing testing. We appreciate you doing your part to slow the spread in the community. As a public health department, we rely on your continued cooperation to protect the community as a whole.

What the Test Means and What Happens Now

The test will be looking for the live virus in your sample (either saliva or nose swab).

•  If the virus is found in your sample, your test will come back positive or detected.
•  If the virus is not found in the sample, your test will come back negative or non-detected.

From the time of testing through when you receive your results, act as though you have coronavirus.

• Isolate in your home until you receive your results.
• Identify an area of your house (ie your bedroom, the basement) that will become your “sick space” where you will remain until you receive your results
• if possible, have a designated bathroom and have roommates or family members bring meals to your sick space
  • If you live alone, have groceries delivered to your front door by friends or a grocery delivery service

While waiting for test results, continue monitoring symptoms. If you develop any of the following, seek immediate medical attention or call 911. 

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

 If You Test Negative

• If you test negative and are experiencing major COVID-like symptoms (Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and/or New loss of taste or smell), it could be possible that you are infected but the test was unable to capture a positive result at that time. You must stay in isolation until: you have no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication), all other symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days have passed from the day you developed your first symptom.
•  If you have had a fever in the last 24-hours and/or your symptoms have not improved or are worse, call Pitkin County Public Health and continue to isolate until you have not had a fever in the last 24-hours and your symptoms have improved. 
• False negative test results are possible. If you are tested too early, you may receive an incorrect negative result. This is why it is important to consult with Public Health or your doctor before you test. Continue to act as though you may have coronavirus through the end of your illness. 

 If You Test Positive You Will Be Contacted By Contact Tracers

• Expect a call from our contact tracing team within 24 hours if your results come back positive for Coronavirus.
• You are required to cooperate with contact tracing, as outlined in the Pitkin County Standing Health Order. 
• Since you have tested positive, you will isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the day of your first symptom(s). After the 10th day, you do not have to isolate if you have not had a fever in the last 24-hours and your symptoms have improved. 
  • On the 10th day if you have had a fever in the last 24-hours or your symptoms are the same or worse, you must continue to isolate. In this case, please call Pitkin County Public Health for additional instructions.
• Participating in the contact tracing process is required to help keep the community safe and is a requirement of being tested.
  • Think back to two days before you began feeling sick and make a list of places you went and people you interacted with. This will greatly help the contact tracing team.
  • Your health status and medical records will not be shared. Your contacts will not be informed of your name.
  • When speaking with Pitkin County Public Health Department, let them know if you need help accessing medication or groceries. The county may also be able to help provide alternate housing if you are unable to quarantine safely in your own home.
  • Do not retest unless directed by Public Health. A negative result from a retest will not release you from the isolation requirements.
  • Visit our resources page for help across a variety of topics
  • If you are caring for someone who has tested positive (a child or dependent adult), practice good hygiene by washing hands after every contact and wear a mask if you are in the same room. If you need further guidance, please contact public health at 970-429-6186.
  • Please understand that because you are caring for a positive individual you are in continuous contact with that person and your 7-10 days of quarantine (depending on the situation) will not begin until they have completed their isolation. 

The Contact Tracing Process Example

1. Joe starts feeling unwell and immediately begins self-isolating and arranges to be tested.
2. Joe tests positive.
3. Pitkin County Public Health is notified of Joe’s positive test result.
4. Pitkin County Public Health reaches out to see how Joe is doing, to discuss isolation requirements and make a list of everyone Joe had contact with while infectious.
5. Those contacts are notified of the exposure while maintaining the confidentiality of Joe.
6. His contacts – Mary, Mark, and Jose – are now aware and instructed to quarantine and monitor for symptoms.
7. Mary and Jose quarantine for 14 days and don’t develop symptoms.
8. Mark becomes sick on day 6 but since he’s been quarantining and monitoring for symptoms he hasn’t infected anyone else. He completes his isolation and is free to return to normal life.

Thank you for being cautious and accessing testing. Doing so will help limit the community spread of COVID-19 and keep the community safe. 

• 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