Usually used to host trade shows and show off livestock, the Western Fair's Agriplex will be turned into a new field hospital for COVID-19 patients, the London Health Sciences Centre says.

The facility will initially have 180 beds, with a possibility of expanding to 500 beds, hospital officials said Friday.

The Agriplex field hospital will be used for patients who are recovering from COVID-19, but not yet well enough to go home.

In an interview with London Morning on Monday, Dr. Chris Mackie, the region's medical officer of health, said a field hospital would alleviate the burden on existing health-care facilities.

The announcement about the field hospital comes as the Middlesex-London Health Unit reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total to 92 confirmed cases.

Hospital officials say the field hospital will be prepped and ready to go, but will only start admitting patients when the need arises.