The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs was established to advise the governor on issues facing the growing Latino community in Pennsylvania. During this pandemic, the commission has been working to ensure that the Latino community around the state is aware of and understands the mitigation actions that the Wolf Administration has taken to keep Pennsylvanians safe, in particular as data shows the Latino and other ethnic minority communities being hard hit by the pandemic.
In that spirit, the commission is continuing to encourage the Latino community to follow the mitigation actions the governor has taken, even as plans to reopen the state are developed.
The commonwealth has a public awareness campaign running statewide with helpful information on how to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Messages have been translated to Spanish and are running on Spanish language media.
“It is absolutely critical that all Pennsylvanians, including those in the Latino community across the commonwealth – from Philly to Erie – follow Governor Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine’s recommendations to the letter so that we can prevent the spread of this disease, keep our families safe and together, and get back to our way of life,” said GACLA executive director Luz Colon.
Pennsylvania’s Latino community plays a vital role in supporting critical industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, restaurants and health care, along with owning and working in small businesses. Now, more than ever, it is critical that every Latino in every community closely follows all safety measures to protect against the virus to save lives and livelihoods.
Key measures to keep safe include:
– Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
– Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands
– Clean surfaces frequently
– Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell
– If you must go out for a life-sustaining reason, wear a mask
Visit pa.gov for more information or follow GACLA on Facebook at facebook.com/PAGACLA/. The information is available in Spanish on the website. GACLA posts updates in Spanish and live streams press conferences on its Facebook page. For translated news releases from the governor’s office on COVID-19, visit governor.pa.gov/espanol.
“Governor Wolf recognizes and appreciates the important contributions of the Latino community to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Colon said. “Let us protect ourselves to guarantee our continued participation in the reconstruction of our great state.”
