By Chad Ingram

As of the afternoon of Thursday March 19there were three confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus within the jurisdictionof the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.

Two cases both women in her their 60swho'd recently travelled to Europe were confirmed during the weekend inNorthumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes respectively.

The third case also confirmed inNorthumberland is a man in his 70s. The three individuals are inself-isolation according to the HKPR website.

While those who contract the coronavirusoften experience mild symptoms there is increased risk for those aged 65 andover; those with compromised immune systems; those with underlying medical conditions;or those who've recently travelled abroad.

Anyone who's travelled outside Canada isasked to self-isolate for 14 days and this is especially important for thoseaged 16 or younger Ontario's chief medical officer of health has said.