As the World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, the agency continues to urge calm, saying with prevention, preparedness and political leadership it can be managed.

Hours earlier, Ottawa announced it’s rolling out a $1-billion fund to help the provinces and territories cope with the increasing number of cases.

It includes $500-million to help them with things such as buying equipment, increased testing for the virus and enhanced surveillance and monitoring, $275-million for research for a vaccine and $50-million to help buy masks and other supplies for healthcare workers.

In Ontario, there are four new cases including a woman in her 30s from Halton Region, whose also a doctor at Hamilton’s Juravinski Cancer Centre.

Back from an international trip, she returned to work and was in contact with patients and staff the afternoon of March 9. 

The hospital’s getting in touch with those who came into contact with the doctor, whose in self-isolation at home.

The other three cases are a woman in her 30s from York Region, who’d been to Egypt, a man in his 30s from Toronto, who’d been to the U.S. and a man in his 40s from Ottawa, who’d returned from Austria.  

Of the 41 cases in the province, five have been resolved.