City of New Orleans officials have begun moving homeless people off of the streets and into the temporarily closed Hilton Garden Inn-New Orleans French Quarter Downtown hotel.
Meanwhile, the city says the areas where the homeless have been encamped will be cleaned.
"As part of the cleanup, staff from the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite & Rodent Control Board will apply chemicals to the area to prevent any rodent infestation," the city said in a statement. " This operation is ongoing, and we are continuing to work with our state and local partners on additional options as capacity is reached."
The city is not only looking to avoid COVID-19 spreading among the homeless population, but also wants to avoid the spread of diseases carried by rodents. With their usual source of restaurant garbage cut off, the city's rodents have spread out in search of food.