Why Should I Get Tested?
by Sublette COVID-19 Response Group
November 3, 2020
People with mild symptoms of COVID-19 may want to self-isolate at home and not get tested. But here’s eight reasons why you should consider getting the test anyway.
1. Getting tested can help you avoid passing the virus to others. While you may have a mild case, you may spread the virus to others. That unintentional spread may be to a first responder, essential worker, someone who works with senior citizens, or to someone at higher risk because of a medical condition.
2. People who test positive and have symptoms can get medical care earlier. While many COVID-19 cases are mild and patients can recover at home, that is not always the case.
3. Testing may be valuable in understanding and treating this virus. Your test may help public health officials understand levels of immunity with this new disease caused by the virus.
4. In the future, you may want to allow your plasma to be used to treat others for the disease and prevent severe complications from COVID-19.
5. You may be eligible to participate in clinical trials for treatments or vaccines. Clinical trials are being conducted throughout the country as health officials seek to learn more about the virus and work to advance treatements.
6. Testing is key to getting back to normal. People with positive cases are required to isolate in order to control the spread of the virus. Controlling the spread is key to keeping our schools and businesses open.
7. Testing saves lives.
8. Testing is free. Sublette County Rural Health Care District medical clinics are able to test symptomatic patients, as well as close contacts to known positive cases, with testing available daily at both medical clinics Monday through Friday. Call either clinic for an appointment: Pinedale 307-367-4133, or Marbleton at 307-276-3306. Since all COVID-19 tests must be confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, patients are instructed to stay home, monitor your health, and maintain social distancing until the test results are received back from the state lab.
Testing for all children 18 and younger who are symptomatic is free of charge. For symptomatic adults with health insurance, your health insurance will be billed for the test. Free testing is also available for symptomatic adults who do not have insurance, and for close contacts of positive cases, through a voucher system from Sublette County Public Health.
Saliva Testing: Sublette County Public Health now offers free COVID-19 saliva testing to all county residents over 60 years of age. This testing is for monitoring only, so it is not for individuals who are sick. Public Health is conducting drive-thru testing at our Pinedale Office on Mondays 1-4:30 p.m., and at the Marbleton senior center on Tuesdays 2-4 p.m. by appointment only. Please contact Joanie Christie at 307-360-3125 or email joanie.christie@wyo.gov for more information and registration instructions.
At-Home Testing: Free, at-home COVID-19 testing is also available to Wyoming residents. The saliva test is administered by Vault Health and allows residents to get results at home without needing to visit a healthcare provider. Visit https://www.vaulthealth.com/covid and order a collection kit. The $150 testing fee is waived for all kits shipped to a Wyoming address and all shipping is prepaid. The saliva is collected during a supervised, online telehealth visit with a Vault test supervisor, which requires an internet connection. Results are reported within 48 hours of when your sample arrives at the lab. More information about Vault testing is available at a dedicated Wyoming Department of Health web page.
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