SAULT STE. MARIE -- As is many things in the COVID-19 era, businesses dealing in death are also being forced to adjust their operations. 

At Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, that will also be the case starting Monday, as new plots at its mausoleum go on sale.

"We're anticipating a number to start, I think we have four families for sure, that are coming out first thing, so hopefully there will be more throughout the day," said Brent Lamming, the cemetery's director of community services.

The cemetery, which is one of four operated by City of Sault Ste. Marie, will be putting 140 new plots up for sale but will do so while enforcing physical distancing.

Lamming said people will be able to line-up in their vehicles at the cemetery office, where they can begin the process of purchasing a plot. The facility is located north of Fourth Line at the intersection of Fourth Line and Peoples Road.

"We will take two cars at a time over to the mausoleum, where they can choose the exact plot they would like," Lamming said. "But while the others are waiting, we can take their names and information and they can wait in their car and then we'll use portable radios to make sure the next groups can be brought out in a timely fashion."  

The city is making these new plots available because construction on the mausoleum is nearly complete, but the cemetery has not yet reached capacity.

City officials said interest hasn't necessarily increased, but there is always high demand even before the pandemic began.

While there have been over 11,000 COVID-related deaths in Canada, the Algoma District has been extremely lucky and has had none.