Health Department is working with orchardists to ensure resident and worker safety
By John T. Ryan
Plattsburgh – Migrant H2A Jamaican workers are well-known as being the lifeblood of local orchards. In this morning’s Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) briefing, Director John Kanosa said his staff is monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it relates to the workers. He said, “The majority of these workers arrive later this summer. This week we reached out to find out how many workers have arrived and how many will arrive. We also wanted to provide education on COVID-19. The workers are typically examined when they leave their country and when they arrive at the Customs Port of Entry. They should be quarantined for 14 days either at the port of arrival or at their labor camp. The operators of the labor camps are discussing ways to practice social distancing and we’re going to try to find ways to reduce the numbers of men in each dorm.”
The Peru Gazette has been informed there are only 18 H2A workers in Peru at this time with all but two arriving over 14 days ago. If they have to use a local ATM they are being directed to use it one at a time and after 6 p.m. When wiring money home they are being directed to enter the business one at a time and to practice social distancing.
As of today, Jamaica’s COVID-19 infection rate is very low with 143 confirmed cases in a population of over 2.9 million. That’s far, far lower than the rate in either the U.S. or in Clinton County.
Peru residents have always welcomed these friendly, hard-working men with open arms. May that tradition continue.
Posted: April 17th, 2020 under Agricultural News, Business News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News.