On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, to be a pandemic.

Around the globe, there have been more than 100,000 confirmed cases, with the number reaching 140 in Canada on March 12.

In Waterloo Region, there have been three confirmed cases, with two being announced on Thursday.

On March 5, Waterloo Public Health announced that a woman in her 50s had contracted the virus during a trip to Italy.

They said the woman was privately transported to Grand River Hospital from Pearson airport and was released under self-quarantine a few hours later.

At the time, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region’s acting medical officer of health, said public health was expecting to see more cases.

“We are preparing for the likelihood of additional cases in Canada, Ontario and Waterloo Region,” she said.

Her prediction turned out to be accurate as public health announced that two more area residents had tested positive for the disease on March 12.

A woman in her 60s returned from a Caribbean cruise on March 7 and the symptoms were discovered on March 8.

A man in his 40s acquired the illness on a trip to Las Vegas.

In both cases, the people were at Grand River Hospital for testing on March 10.

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