COVID 19 has forced Florida officials to make some changes to this hurricane season.

Some of the biggest differences will be coming to shelters. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, the state will limit capacity to 50 people in one place. Personal protective equipment and temperature checks will be used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Florida has also started enlisting hotels to ensure social distancing can be observed if needed. More than 200 have signed on to date through an app administered by the Division of Emergency Management.

Florida will now encourage some to shelter in place as opposed to leaving their homes behind. It will depend largely on if a person’s house is strong enough and outside a surge zone.

Florida officials have been working on the virus/hurricane combo since mid-March. Emergency management dedicated a team to creating first-of-its-kind rules for the first-of-its-kind situation.