California to Track Covid-19 Data Based on Sexual Orientation

California health-care providers will have to record the sexual orientation and gender identity of Covid-19 patients under regulations announced Tuesday.

The regulations are part of the state’s effort to study the infection rate of communicable diseases in LGBTQ communities, which will allow it to identify and address disparities through public health programs, California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly said in a statement. The regulations take effect immediately.

Ghaly said the state is also working to improve its data collection on Covid-19 patients’ race and ethnicity. He added that about one-third of the cases reported don’t include that ...