Florida A&M University, Institute of Public Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA.
New Solut. 2021 May;31(1):9-15. doi: 10.1177/1048291121989000. Epub 2021 Jan 31.
The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly impacted frontline workers' health in 2020. The objective of this commentary is to evaluate some of the challenges faced by undocumented farmworkers in the context of the current global pandemic and possible risk mitigation strategies. Undocumented farmworkers make considerable contributions to the U.S. economy and food production, but they are at an elevated risk for contracting Covid-19. Their risk is compounded by their employment and legal status, as well as their poor working and living conditions which makes it difficult for them to observe Covid-19 precautionary measures. U.S. immigration policy disincentivizes undocumented farmworkers from seeking healthcare services. Contact tracing challenges could be overcome by gaining trust with subsequent increased testing and care. Extending eligibility of safety net programs for undocumented farmworkers will help to ease the burden of Covid-19, thereby improving their overall health and productivity.
2020 年,新冠疫情极大地影响了一线工作者的健康。本文旨在评估当前全球大流行背景下无证农业工人所面临的一些挑战,以及可能的风险缓解策略。无证农业工人为美国经济和食品生产做出了巨大贡献,但他们感染新冠病毒的风险更高。他们的风险因就业和法律地位以及恶劣的工作和生活条件而加剧,这使得他们难以遵守新冠预防措施。美国移民政策阻碍了无证农业工人寻求医疗服务。通过建立信任,增加检测和护理,可以克服接触者追踪的挑战。扩大无证农业工人安全网计划的资格将有助于缓解新冠疫情的负担,从而提高他们的整体健康和生产力。