'Deemed essential' and left behind: How community leaders and physicians are helping Latino farmworkers navigate long COVID

By: Monica Carrillo-Casas

Outlets: The Spokesman-Review

Published: June 14, 2026

Words: 1,565

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago

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Armida Rivera was working as a supervisor at Monson Fruit Company near Yakima during the COVID-19 pandemic, when workers asked her to strike with them .

She didn’t hesitate to say yes. But not long after, she was fired.

“They didn’t have any protection against the virus. We didn’t have soap for us to wash our hands,” Rivera said in Spanish. “I don’t regret saying yes. I wholeheartedly would do it again.”

Rivera now serves …

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