'COVID's Hidden Toll': The victims that were not accounted for

 Silver Barker

sb230419@ohio.edu

Photo taken by Brian L. Frank/New York Times

There has been an error in our country's data regarding COVID numbers and rates. Most people are aware that these numbers may be slightly inaccurate due to the number of people who have not tested. Unfortunately, the numbers being slightly off is an understatement. This country has failed to recognize a vital group containing a vast majority of workers who place an everyday influence on the lifestyle of many people in the United States. It is easy to overlook the amount of work a farmer has done to provide your local grocery store with fresh produce, including vegetables and meat, when the only thing on your mind is what you will do with it. Mass production farming has placed workers in a dangerous workplace with harsh conditions such as sun exposure, dehydration, and much more for many years. These problems of agricultural workers have only surfaced in recent events due to the global outbreak of the disease COVID-19. On March 29th, Frontline director Daffodil Altan and documentary filmmaker Andrés Cediel spent time enlightening me on the struggles farmworkers face during these harsh times of the pandemic by presenting a documentary called "Covid's Hidden Toll."

The number of farmworkers who have tested positive for COVID-19 is alarming, but what is even more alarming is the number of farmworkers who have had symptoms, yet they did not go to get tested. A person may wonder why someone wouldn't just get a test that only takes possibly ten minutes out of their day. However, there are many underlying reasons why these field workers avoid testing. 

About 90 percent of the crop workers were born outside of the United States in California alone. Roughly half of these California crop workers are undocumented, meaning they do not have the documents needed to get tested or even vaccinated. Undocumented farmworkers are not only in California but can also be found in many parts of the country, mainly on the outskirts. This fact alone perfectly reflects how poorly of a workforce this is to which the government has paid very little attention. 

Maricruz Ladino is a farmworker who works in Salinas, California. In "Covid's Hidden Toll," Maricruz was asked in an interview to explain how workers are feeling in the moment of a pandemic. "They're suffering right now... They stay home to protect themselves and their families or go to work". The work policies for farmworkers have been carelessly put into place and are very ineffective when it comes to health concerns and risks for them and their loved ones. Families have to choose between keeping their job or possibly exposing their family (who may be undocumented since it is expected) to getting the virus. "I'm worried about the fear that people have to go to the doctors... I'm worried about their fear of admitting to having any symptoms, " says Maricruz. If these undocumented workers were to get tested, they might risk getting deported. 

In 2020, when the virus first had its outbreak, while other workplaces were readdressing the situation by changing their policies, many meat packaging companies were late to the trend and did nothing to protect their employees. "People were getting suspended for showing up with a face mask," said an anonymous source from "Covid's Hidden Toll," Not only were people unable to wear face masks, but also many workers could not afford face masks; the money they were being paid were going toward other needs. As a result, the pandemic resulted in a shortage of farmworkers, and several have lost their jobs due to health concerns working in the field and failing to abide by the cruel policies enforced.  

As a journalist, I recognize my importance and duty to report and offer a voice for those in times of when they cannot find their own. Journalist must continue to expose these hardships so we can spread awareness to those who are oblivious of what it is like behind the scene of making produce. This produce that we receive at markets and grocery stores is essential to our everyday lives, but so are the workers lives who put this food on the table.