Farm workers and COVID-19

While some of us are able to work at home, some of us who have been designated “essential” must continue to go to work. This can put them at risk, and then put our essential services at risk. CDC has issued guidance to keep our essential workers both working and safe. Under this new guidance, essential workers can continue to work after they have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, if they do not feel sick and if they take their temperature every day, wear a face mask, carefully physically distance themselves from others, and if the employer cleans and disinfects all common areas and equipment. (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/critical-workers/implementing-safety-practices.html)

One group of essential workers that can be especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infection is farm workers. Farm workers often work side by side close to one another, and some live together on the farm in temporary worker housing. This means they may be unavoidably close to each other both at work and in their off time. Farm workers are likely to be Latino and may also have some of the social and economic challenges that are more common among Latino people than among white people, like language barriers, discrimination, stigma around immigration status, or poverty. Many lack access to paid sick leave.

We are working closely with the Governor’s Office, other state agencies, growers, community advocates, and other stakeholders to address farm worker health and safety needs related to COVID-19. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries recently released guidance to help employers protect workers in agricultural jobs. The guidance states that employers must keep workers at least six feet apart; ensure frequent employee hand washing; increase regular cleaning and sanitizing of common-touch surfaces; make sure sick employees stay home (or are isolated); and educate workers in the language they understand best about coronavirus and how to prevent transmission. (www.lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/F414-165-000.pdf)

We’re committed to protecting the health of all people, but it’s particularly important to protect the health of the people who feed our state.

Does all this talk about growing food make you want to stock up? Purchase just what you need for the next two weeks. According to USDA, there are no nationwide shortages of food, although in some cases the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock.

Numbers. The latest numbers are updated on our webpage. As of 11:59 p.m. on April 29, there are 193,981 people in Washington who have been tested for COVID-19. Of those, 14,327 people (or 7.4%) have tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 814 people (or 5.7%) have died of the disease.

Practice compassion. Can you support a local farm? Consider whether you can buy local, seasonal produce directly from a farmer through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This allows farmers to receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow, and you get to discover new vegetables and develop a relationship with the farmer who grows your food.

More Information

Stay tuned to our blog for more information on how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.

Information in this blog changes rapidly. Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact our call center at
1–800–525–0127. Hours: 6 am-10 pm, seven days a week.