A three-month-old baby is among the four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton on Saturday.

"Early indications is that they are travel related," Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's medical officer of health, said at a media conference at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

"However we are still underway in terms of our investigation and getting more details on these cases."

Two of the new cases are a couple in their 60s who went on a cruise to the Caribbean. No information has been provided yet on the fourth case.

All four are self isolating at home.

Halton also had a new case Saturday which was a woman in her 50s who travelled to the United States. She was tested at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington and is also self isolating.

The new cases brings the area total to eight cases — five in Hamilton, two in Halton and one that overlaps both areas.

Provincewide there was 103 confirmed cases as of 5:30 p.m. Saturday up from 74 on Friday. Although that doesn't include three of the new Hamilton cases.

Richardson strongly advised against international travel particularly cruise ships warning that you may not be able to get home.

"If you do choose to travel — if you need to for essential purposes — keep in mind that you might run into a health care system that doesn't quite operate the same way that ours does," she said. "There is a possibility you might end up locked down within a country or that there may not be travel arrangements for you to return so you might be away much longer than you intend."

Anyone who does travel is recommended to self isolate for 14 days upon returning to Canada.

Centres to assess and test for COVID-19 in Hamilton are expected to be announced Monday.

St. Joseph's Healthcare confirmed Saturday that one of the sites will be at its King Campus urgent care centre.

Hamilton Health Sciences says another will be at its West End Clinic urgent care centre.

These assessment centres are intended only for people referred by public health or family doctors.

In the meantime, more than 2,500 people have called city's coronavirus hotline — 984 of them were between Friday morning and Saturday morning.

The hotline is 905-546-2424 ext. 7970, phscovid19@hamilton.ca or hamilton.ca/coronavirus.

"In terms of risk it is unlikely that anybody in Hamilton is going to be exposed or infected to COVID-19," said Richardson.

However, "Residents do need to be mindful that the situation is evolving rapidly."

So far it does not appear coronavirus is circulating in the community, said Richardson.

"In terms of community spread it is always something we're looking at as part of the investigation, trying to determine if that is a possibility," she said. "At this point we don't see that."

The city put in place a number of measures Saturday to try to slow the spread of COVID-19 including shutting down recreation centres, seniors centres, arenas, libraries and city-run museums.

It was on top of a flurry of cancellations Friday in sports, city-run programs, large events and in person classes and exams at McMaster University and Mohawk College.

"Essentially what we're doing is trying to maintain containment," said Richardson. "The steps you are seeing us take in terms of the social distancing, what is happening in schools, what is happening in daycares, what is happening in city facilities is all in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of transmission."

The big increase in Hamilton's cases Saturday to five from two came after there was no new cases Friday.

Hamilton and Halton's first case — a 32-year-old Juravinski Cancer Centre oncologist who lives in Burlington and travelled to Hawaii — was announced Wednesday. On Thursday, health officials said two more area residents tested positive: a 52-year-old Hamilton man and an Oakville woman in her 40s. Both had recently travelled to the United States.

"We encourage people to continue to be patient and vigilant," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger Saturday. "Look after one another, certainly help the most vulnerable in our community the seniors and the most marginalized individuals out there who are most challenged by all of this."

He said, "We encourage you to make wise decisions."

Richardson reminded people who to protect themselves with what she called "the most important measures you can follow:"

• Stay home if ill;

• Don't shake hands;

• Avoid crowded places and non-essential gatherings;

• Wash hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water not available;

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth;

• Get proper exercise, sleep and healthy diet to maintain the immune system;

• Avoid contact with those who are ill and their items;

• Cover your cough with a tissue or your sleeve;

• No gatherings of 250 people or more;

• Before arranging small gatherings contact the hotline to get guidance;

• No small gatherings for seniors;

• Tightly crowded venues not recommended.