SAULT STE. MARIE -- The Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has secured the GFL Memorial Gardens as an alternative hospital site.

In a media release Thursday, SAH says this is part of its surge planning with the city.

SAH says the utilization of the arena is part of the fourth and final stage of its capacity plan.

According to the release, stage four will only be activated when a certain threshold of positive COVID-19 patients is surpassed at the hospital.

Right now, the hospital says it remains at stage one of its surge planning.