This week, the ATS joined 250 national and state organizations in a letter led by the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and Trust for America’s Health in letters to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services urging the federal government to collect and report detailed demographic data about COVID-19 patients in order to identify groups that may have a higher likelihood of getting sick with severe illness from COVID-19. The letters point out that state and local officials have documented that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted with more severe illness and higher mortality by the COVID-19 outbreak but there are significant gaps in current demographic data collection. Collecting detailed demographic data including race, ethnicity, primary language, sex and other criteria, as well as target testing, health care and social services resources to these groups was one of the stated priorities. The letter states, “As organizations that are deeply concerned that this pandemic may exacerbate our nation’s existing health inequities, we ask you to ensure our country has the tools it needs to effectively respond to this unprecedented crisis and assist our most vulnerable populations.”