For thousands of vulnerable, predominantly Latino undocumented workers across California’s sprawling agricultural region, there is immense fear and reluctance to self-report possible COVID-19 infection — even with some doctors promising confidentiality.

The United Farm Workers union estimates up to 70 percent of farmworkers in this region are in the U.S. illegally, which means they do not have access to federal or state unemployment benefits, and they cannot risk losing their livelihoods. The pressure to work is forcing some laborers to potentially ignore their exposure to COVID-19.

For more on this story — a new partnership with Telemundo — watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.