Journal article
Innovative Cohort Process to Minimize COVID-19 Infection for Migrant Farmworkers During Travel to Iowa
Workplace health & safety, Vol.70(1), pp.17-23
01/2022
DOI: 10.1177/21650799211045308
PMID: 35037514
Abstract
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) experience disproportionate infection, severe disease and death from COVID-19. This report describes an innovative process to address the safety of MSFW that utilized cohorting that eventually allowed for safe release to work in the fields on a large family farm in Iowa.
: Upon worker departure from Mexico, the employer arranged for bus seat assignments, mask use, and hand hygiene practice during the 3-day trip to Iowa. Upon arrival at the farm, surveillance testing and low-density housing cohorting based upon travel seat assignments allowed for early identification of infected workers and appropriate quarantine as per CDC guidelines. Upon completion of isolation or quarantine as appropriate, workers were released to congregate housing and work in the fields.
: Compared to a migrant farmworker COVID-19 outbreak without travel pre-planning, the cohorting process produced a 3.5% positivity rate compared to an earlier season July farmworker group on the same farm with a 12.7% positivity rate.
: The success of this model points to the power of collaboration between farm employer, health care providers and workers to minimize worker infection and enable safe work in the fields. Increased state and federal support for MSFW protections could support infrastructure to proactively plan for prevention mechanisms to prevent the spread of known communicable disease. With support in place from the top down, employers, workers, and health care providers will be able to prioritize the management of infectious diseases and the needs of essential workers.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Innovative Cohort Process to Minimize COVID-19 Infection for Migrant Farmworkers During Travel to Iowa
- Creators
- Caroline Johnson - Proteus FundKimberly Dukes - Iowa City VA Medical CenterEmily Sinnwell - University of Iowa College of NursingKennith Culp - University of Iowa College of NursingDaniel Zinnel - Proteus FundClaudia Corwin - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Workplace health & safety, Vol.70(1), pp.17-23
- DOI
- 10.1177/21650799211045308
- PMID
- 35037514
- NLM abbreviation
- Workplace Health Saf
- ISSN
- 2165-0799
- eISSN
- 2165-0969
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Occupational and Environmental Health; International Programs; Nursing; General Internal Medicine; Community and Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984359856102771
Metrics
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