Who Gets Tested for Novel Coronavirus

Anyone who has symptoms of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, or believes they may have been exposed to COVID-19 is encouraged to contact their health care provider, who can determine if you need to be tested for the COVID-19 virus. Those symptoms include a cough with a fever and shortness of breath. If it is determined that you need to get tested, your provider will write an order for you to get tested and you will only get a test if you have that order.

Denver Health has made it easy to contact your provider remotely using MyChart.

Do not come to the emergency department if you are having COVID-19 symptoms, unless you are also having a medical emergency.

Expect the testing to take at least 24-72 hours before you get a result. More testing options are being added daily, so that timeline could change. Find the latest testing information from the State of Colorado.

Denver Health follows state guidelines recommending testing of patients who show signs of fever and respiratory illness and who:

• Had contact with a COVID-19 patient
• Have traveled in areas of community transmission
• Have been hospitalized or are living in a nursing home
• Are considered higher risk (older adults, certain medical conditions)
• Health care workers who have come in close contact with a patient who has COVID-19