As the number of COVID-19 cases in Santa Maria continues to rise, cases among agricultural workers and the Hispanic population are higher than the rest of the community.
According to the numbers on Santa Barbara County's Public Health website, Santa Maria had 913 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday.
That number continues to go up every day.
Dr. Van Do Reynoso, Director of the County's Public Health Department, said, "Latinos and Hispanics in Santa Maria represent a disproportionately higher number of cases.”
Hispanics account for 1,272 of the county's 2,631 total cases.
The CDC has also said that ethnic minority groups, especially Hispanics, are at an increased risk of getting the virus.
Santa Maria City Council Member Gloria Soto shared her concerns about people being affected.
"We are seeing that low-income people who are working in low wage jobs are the ones who are contracting the virus at a much faster pace. That is because those same individuals who are contacting the virus are essential workers," said Soto.
Next Monday, city officials will be meeting with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department to come up with a strategic plan to address the rising number of coronavirus cases.