The Television Academy is making some changes to the forthcoming Emmy Awards as the delta variant of COVID-19 spreads.

By relocating the Emmys to an outside site, the Academy hopes to guarantee the safety of guests.

The Television Academy and CBS have opted to hold all ceremonies on the Event Deck at L.A. Live, right behind the Microsoft Theater, including the distinct Creative Arts Emmys. This will allow “an indoor/outdoor setting and more socially-distanced audience seating to be utilized.” The event was supposed to be held at the Microsoft Theater.

The organization announced Tuesday afternoon:

“Preparations for welcoming live audiences to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and the 73rd Emmy Awards telecast are underway. Following discussions with health and safety experts for Los Angeles County and the Emmy ceremonies, the Television Academy has concluded that we must further limit the number of nominees attending the Creative Arts Emmys on Sept. 11 and 12 as well as the 73rd Emmys on Sept. 19.

“Although invitations have just been mailed out, nominated teams of three or more will now be limited to no more than four tickets per nomination. Unfortunately, this means not all nominees will be able to attend this year’s awards. We recommend those on nominated teams coordinate between themselves and identify how they will allot their four tickets before they RSVP.

“In addition, the Television Academy and CBS have decided to host all ceremonies, including the Creative Arts, on the Event Deck at L.A. LIVE, directly behind the Microsoft Theater. This will provide an opportunity to utilize an “indoor/outdoor” setting and more socially distanced audience seating.

“The health and safety of our nominees is of paramount importance. Conversations are ongoing, and we will provide further information as it is available. The Television Academy appreciates everyone’s understanding as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 delta variant.”

The 73rd annual Emmy Awards will be held on September 19.

The move by the Television Academy comes as the Delta version spreads around the world, including the United States. Despite the fact that California’s COVID-19 infection rate is lower than the national average, there is substantial concern about how Delta may effect the country’s most populous state. According to KTLA, hospitalizations in California have risen in only a few weeks.

This year’s host is Cedric the Entertainer. Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart, who executive produced and directed last year’s well-received virtual ceremony, are returning in the same roles this year, with Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment producing. The event will be broadcast on CBS and streamed live and on demand on Paramount+.

The Emmy nominations for 2021 were announced in July, with The Crown receiving a whopping 24 nominations and The Mandalorian, Disney’s Star Wars series centered on Boba Fett, receiving the same amount of nominations.

Because of Covid, there was no communal ceremony in 2020 at all. Instead, a virtual event presented by Jimmy Kimmel took place.

Nominees and other spectators flocked to the Emmys, with hazmat-suited couriers delivering statuettes to winners.

After being canceled in 2020 and postponed this year from its usual first Monday in May date, the 2021 Met Gala will take place in September at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Prior to the fashion show on Sept. 13, it was announced that all guests would need to be properly vaccinated against COVID-19 and that masks would be required within.