With little access to hand-washing stations, shelter, sanitary restrooms and medical care, Los Angeles County’s homeless population may be hit especially hard during a novel coronavirus outbreak, public health officials said this week.

“Many of the strategies that we ask people to take — for people who are unsheltered, are actually impossible,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, told the LA County Board of Supervisors.

On the heels of the county’s declaration of a health emergency, Ferrer said extra measures have been launched to help the nearly 59,000 people experiencing homelessness countywide, with more than 44,000 unsheltered, overcome those obstacles.