Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg. Photo: Waldteufel – Fotolia

Gov. Tom Wolf on April 15 named Lt. Gov. John Fetterman to lead a new task force that would address how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected minority and vulnerable populations.

The task force, composed of Wolf administration minority advisory commission leaders and public health officials, among others, is expected to gather information during the coronavirus crisis, reach out to minority communities and develop recommendations to address disparities in health outcomes.

The Department of Health releases daily data on those affected with COVID-19, but data on race has been in short supply, according to a Wolf administration. In several states and cities, preliminary data have shown that minority populations have suffered coronavirus infections and deaths in disproportionate numbers.

"It's unconscionable for black, Hispanic, and Asian-Pacific Pennsylvanians to be hit harder by this pandemic, which has highlighted the systemwide inequity that already existed in these communities," Fetterman said in a statement. "It's our job to keep all Pennsylvanians safe, and we need to reach into these communities and create a line of communication straight to the governor, so we can stop the spread of COVID-19."

Wolf said the task force, by "working proactively with leaders of different communities across our commonwealth, [would] better ensure nobody gets left out as we start to recover from this crisis."