LOS ANGELES (AP) — The federal government has allowed Los Angeles County to cancel its 2021 homeless count over concerns that it can’t be done safely or accurately during the coronavirus epidemic.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority announced Wednesday that it had received an exemption from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD normally would have required the count, scheduled for January.

The information is used to distribute resources for homeless services. But authorities say there was no safe way in the midst of the pandemic to gather the 8,000 volunteers needed to check tents and other makeshift shelters.