Hispanic workers most affected by covid-19 in the agricultural sector

Minority children, the most affected by covid-19 in the US 2:32

(CNN) -

More Hispanic workers were affected by the coronavirus pandemic in food processing plants, manufacturing and agricultural workplaces in the United States last spring than workers of other races or ethnicities.

This was reported on Monday by a team led by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for its acronym in English).

The study found that nearly 73% of workers in meat and poultry plants and similar settings across the country were Hispanic or Latino, despite representing only 37% of the workforce in these workplaces.

"Our study supports the findings of previous reports that part of the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 among some racial and ethnic minority groups is likely related to occupational risk," the team wrote.

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Officials across the country have reported for months that the pandemic was disproportionately affecting communities of color for a variety of reasons, including living and working conditions, as well as equitable access to health care.

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CDC examined information collected from state health departments on workers with confirmed COVID-19 in food processing plants, manufacturing, and agricultural settings between March 1 and May 31.

Nearly 73% of those diagnosed with coronavirus were Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% were Black and 4.1% were Asian or Pacific Islander, according to the survey.

This suggests that "Hispanic / Latino, non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian / Pacific Islander workers in these workplaces could be disproportionately affected by COVID-19."

So the researchers wrote in the

CDC's

journal

.

High-density workplaces

Researchers found reports of massive tests in U.S. meat and poultry plants that revealed widespread coronavirus outbreaks and found large numbers of asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections.

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High-density workplaces can cause an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission, the researchers reported.

'These findings support the need for comprehensive testing strategies.

Along with contact tracing and symptom detection, for high-density critical infrastructure workplaces.

And thus help identify infections and reduce transmission within the workplace, "the study concluded.

Only 36 states reported data, and testing strategies varied by workplace.

This influenced the number of cases detected, the CDC said.

Additionally, workers who are hesitant to report illnesses could have led to an underestimation of cases among workers.

Hispanics