Santa Cruz County Orders 32,000 N95 Masks For Farmworkers

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Santa Cruz County officials are working to secure and distribute 32,000 N95 masks to local farms to protect farmworkers amid higher-than-usual air pollution levels due to the CZU August Lightning Complex fires.

Fifteen thousand masks were distributed last week, and another 27,000 have been ordered, the county said in a news release. Distribution of those masks has begun.

Growers must distribute masks when the Air Quality Index reaches 151, the beginning of the "unhealthy" range, the county said.

“Our agricultural workers are at greater risk of smoke exposure as they often have no
option but to work outdoors,” said Tamara Vides, assistant city manager for the city of
Watsonville, in the news release. “We are pleased to support the County and work with them in assuring the health of our farmworkers is protected.”

The effort is a collaboration between the county Emergency Operations Center and Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo.