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Voice of the Fields California
November 2021
FREE
COVID-19
California Update
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EARLY TWO YEARS after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re still witnessing widespread COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and around the world. Medical experts note that the reason we’re all still in the middle of a global health crisis is because the coronavirus continues mutating among unvaccinated individuals. Viruses are known for their unique ability to mutate, meaning that they get stronger over time and evolve to be more contagious and harmful. Throughout history, we’ve seen that vaccinations are a solution to this problem, but it only works when the majority of the population gets vaccinated.
Because of COVID-19 mutations and vaccine hesitancy, medical professionals are beginning to administer booster shots to fully vaccinated individuals that are intended to “boost” the vaccines efficacy. Still, doctors recommend that the most important step is getting everyone fully vaccinated. For those that are, booster shots are a great way to stay safe and healthy. The most recent studies report that the booster shot is around 90% successful at keeping individuals from contracting COVID-19 or having severe symptoms, which is a huge step towards getting the state back to normal and keeping our communities healthy and covid-free. If you are fully vaccinated, you may be eligible to receive the booster shot. Right now, the following individuals are eligible: People 65 years of age and older People in long-term care settings People between the ages of 50 and 64 who have underlying medical conditions People as young as 18 and older with underlying medical conditions Check to see if you’re eligible to receive the booster shot by visiting the California COVID-19 website: English: covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/#Boostershots-and-additional-doses Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/vaccines/#Boostershots-and-additional-doses The good news is that California was recently named the only state in the country
where COVID-19 is “moderately transmissible,” by comparison to every other state which is still considered a “high risk transmission” zone. But this doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is no longer dangerous. Healthcare professionals still recommend physical distancing and mask wearing in indoor spaces with large groups of people, as well as among unvaccinated groups. The medical community also recommends that individuals receive their flu shot in addition to a COVID-19 vaccine. Like coronavirus, influenza is a virus that, if contracted, worsens the immune system and makes you more susceptible to getting COVID-19, with potentially more harmful symptoms. Vaccines have been used and tested for over three centuries around the world - they are safe and are the best defense against widespread illnesses. Vaccines continue to be available across California, free of charge, and without knowledge of immigration status. Protect your family, friends and community by getting vaccinated. Visit California’s My Turn website or the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website to find a vaccination clinic nearest to you to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or flu vaccination: My Turn English: myturn.ca.gov Spanish: myturn.ca.gov/es_US.html CDC www.vaccines.gov/search/
Volume 31, Number 11
Resources Available
While some programs like unemployment have been reduced, Californians still have access to an array of pandemic-relief resources. From food to housing resources, there are programs and services designed to help get our state back to normal and help lift California families out of hardship. FOOD RESOURCES For more information about food benefits available to you and in your area, visit the website below. Immediate food help, ongoing benefits and food bank services are available. English: covid19.ca.gov/food-resources/ Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/food-resources/ EMOTIONAL SUPPORT The pandemic has taken its toll on Californians, increasing our stress, addiction rates, domestic violence, and depression across the board. If you need help with managing any one of these things, visit the website below for more information. English: covid19.ca.gov/resources-for-emotional-support-and-well-being/ Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/resources-foremotional-support-and-well-being/ FINANCIAL SUPPORT There are many different programs designed to help you with financial hardships caused by the global health crisis. Whether you need help with sick leave, funeral costs, mortgage or rent payments, or something else, there is financial support available. English: covid19.ca.gov/get-financial-help/ Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/get-financialhelp/ HOUSING FOR THE HARVEST Agricultural workers are at high risk for COVID-19 transmission because of close working and living conditions. If you are recovering from COVID-19, or if you need to quarantine after coming into contact with a person who has COVID-19, the state will pay for your two-week hotel stay and transportation to and from work. Continued on next page
How to be Safer at Work From COVID-19:
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. You may already be vaccinated, but if not, you should know that the COVID-19 vaccine is free and available to all, regardless of citizenship status. Food and agricultural workers have been highlighted as a group that should receive the vaccine in particular, as they are especially vulnerable to being exposed to the virus since workers in this industry typically work and live in close contact with others. Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), your employer can require you to be vaccinated in order to work for them, but only if the vaccine is FDAapproved (as of right now, only the Pfizer vaccine has full FDA-approval). If your employer does require you to receive an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine or take routine COVID tests, you should know that they are required to pay you for the time it takes to receive the vaccine or test (including travel time). This is because you are doing something which your employer requires you to do, which technically counts as “hours worked.” For those who are fully vaccinated, booster shots are now available, as discussed in the previous section. Booster shots “boost” your immunity against COVID-19 further and provide added protection against the virus. You may be wondering why we would even need booster shots, since it was only earlier this year that the COVID-19 vaccine became available in California. The answer is that the Delta variant, combined with widespread vaccine hesitancy has made it so that COVID-19 mutations have gotten stronger, more trans-
COVID-19
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In many cases, you will also receive three meals a day and other support like laundry services. English: covid19.ca.gov/housing-for-agricultural-workers/ Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/housing-foragricultural-workers/
missible, and carry more severe symptoms. As a result, scientists developed booster shots to provide fully vaccinated individuals with added protections. However, the most important thing to do first is to get vaccinated and encourage your friends and family to do the same before receiving a booster shot. While getting the vaccine is the best protection against contracting and spreading COVID-19, masks are still very good at preventing transmission of the virus. Your employer is required to provide you with a face mask for you to wear while you work to better protect yourself. With the recent designation of farmworkers as essential workers, farmworker employers are also now required to provide you with an N-95 mask, should you request it. Aside from masks and vaccinations, other precautions you should be taking to lower your risk of COVID-19 exposure are: Physical distancing Washing your hands regularly Using hand sanitizer Cleaning commonly touched surfaces. To further prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, your employer is required to create and put forward a COVID-19 Prevention Program that includes identifying and evaluating employee exposures to COVID-19 health hazards, implementing policies to correct unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, and allow adequate time for handwashing and cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces. If your employer has violated your rights in relation to COVID-19 safety (by failing to provide you with a face mask or not paying you for the time you take off to receive a vaccination they required, for instance), then you have a right to anonymously report this violation to California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). To send an anonymous report to Cal/ OSHA, use the following links: English: www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/complaint.htm Spanish: www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/Spanish/ complaint.htm
From Wildfires:
Governor Newsom recently signed into law AB 73, classifying farmworkers as essential workers and therefore granting them access to the state’s stockpile of N-95 masks (the type of masks that provide the best protection against wildfire smoke). Farmworkers previously did not have access to these masks, but recent wildfires in California have shed light on just how dangerous farmwork during wildfire season can be and how important it is to protect the health and safety of those who work tirelessly to bring food to our tables. AB 73 also ensures that farmworkers have access to quality education and training relating to wildfire smoke. This law immediately went into effect after the governor signed it, meaning that you now have the right to access N-95 masks from the state to better protect yourself from wildfire smoke. You can access these masks by requesting them from your employer. The same thing applies here as it does with other work-safety violations: if your employer refuses to give you a mask, you can report them anonymously through the Cal OSHA website.
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Voice of the Fields California Circulation: 45,000 copies www.LaCooperativa.org Published monthly by: La Cooperativa Campesina de California 1107 9th Street, Suite 420, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.388.2220 • Fax 916.388.2425 This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner. Content produced by ALZA Strategies, a full-service strategy firm that offers quality media relations, crisis communications, public affairs services, and expertise into the growing Latino market.