Testing & Treatment
Free COVID-19 testing and treatment is available to everyone!
When Should I Get Tested?
- If you have any symptoms of COVID-19,
- Test immediately, regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status.
- If your test is negative but you continue to have symptoms, test again 24-48 hours later. Low amounts of virus early in infection can be missed by a test, and the test can be positive a few days later.
- If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19,
- Test when notified of exposure and 3-5 days after exposure, even if you have no symptoms.
- Test immediately if symptoms develop.
- Consider testing before and 3-5 days after a gathering, a large event or travel,
Where can I get an at-home test?
- El Dorado County Public Health has partnered with the El Dorado County Public Libraries to make COVID-19 home test kits available to all El Dorado County residents at local public libraries. Visit them to get free home test kits.
- Get FREE tests with medical insurance at your local drugstore (in-store or online):
- NEW Resource!! - Get free at-home COVID-19 tests this winter. Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Tests will start shipping the week of December 19th.
- To order the Free At-Home Tests visit - https://special.usps.com/testkits.
- Need help placing an order for your at-home tests? Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Where can I get tested?
The COVID-19 test site in South Lake Tahoe and Placerville have been permanently closed.
Optum Serve is a resource provided by the State of California and those sites with low testing volume are being decommissioned.
Please see additional options for testing:
South Lake Tahoe
Private Sector Testing Locations
- Barton Health - Primary Care Provider Offices & Urgent Care (Multiple Locations)
- Test Well - 3678 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
- Quick Care - 2074 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
West Slope
Private Sector Testing Locations
Pharmacy Locations
Sacramento County Testing Site & Information
What if my test is positive?
- You have COVID-19. If you have severe symptoms call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. Contact a health care provider to see if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments to prevent severe symptoms, hospitalization, or death. If you don’t have a provider, California Department of Public Health has a free service to provide.
- FREE Virtual COVID-19 Visit for Californians Ages 12 and Up - https://sesamecare.com/covidca
- Please note, this is a free service to support uninsured and underinsured individuals within the State of California who cannot connect with a healthcare provider within 24 hours of receiving a positive test result. COVID-19 medications must be started within 5-7 days of symptom onset to be effective. If you are insured, please try an make an appointment with your healthcare provider first. If you cannot be seen within 3-5 days, of symptom onset, you may proceed by booking here.
- Language support: all providers have access to a translation service.
- Follow recommendations to prevent spreading the disease to others.
- Report your positive test on canotify.ca.gov.