Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas to study COVID-19 impact on farmworkers

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) At Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas, testing for COVID-19 happens fast and frequently.

"Working in the agriculture field has been very difficult because there is fear. You don't know if your other co-workers are healthy or not," said a Salinas Valley farmworker who wanted to remain anonymous.

She said she has worked in Salinas Valley fields for 17 years. On Monday she got tested for the Coronavirus at Clinica de Salud. "If we think or suspect that we are sick it's better to tell our supervisor. That way we can stay home and not infect anyone else," said the worker.

The worker is allowing her test results to be sent off to the University of California, Berkeley. Their researchers are collecting data on Salinas Valley farmworkers and their exposure to the virus.

"We want to know the risk factors as well as what we can do in terms of prevention," said study coordinator with Clinic de Salud, Kimberly Parra.

Parra is working to recruit around 5,000 local farmworkers for the study. In addition to gathering test results, she takes notes on each patient's lifestyle. "We're asking them not only about their health, but about housing characteristics and working conditions. It's really important for us to know the barriers and challenges in preventing transmission of Coronavirus," said Parra.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley said the data will help them identify risk factors. Their goal is to eventually give recommendations that will increase safety for farmworkers.

"We hope that this study will provide more information not only for our community, but for our providers and front line workers" said Parra.

For more information on how to participate in the study, call: (831) 710-1781.