A fourth person in New Hampshire is being tested for the coronavirus disease Covid-19, state health officials announced Sunday.

The illness caused by the new coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province China, and has since spread to at least 50 other countries, including the United States. The person in New Hampshire recently returned from travel to Italy and notified their health care provider after developing fever and respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. They are currently isolated and being monitored by public health clinicians and do not currently pose a threat to the public�s health, officials said, adding preliminary test results may come Monday. There have not been any cases of Covid-19 yet identified in New Hampshire.

Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire's state epidemiologist, said, �Any returning travelers from countries that currently have a CDC travel advisory due to sustained or widespread Covid-19 transmission should monitor their health closely for development of fever or respiratory symptoms. If such symptoms develop within 14 days of travel to an affected country, the individual should seek health advice by phone from their health care provider and limit their contact with others."

Chan added, "We are aware that some schools have students who traveled to Italy over February break and have instructed their students to stay home for 14 days from travel to affected regions. We will support schools in taking steps to protect their communities during this very dynamic and challenging situation, and we have released interim guidance to help school communities to address questions and concerns.�

Thirty-five Kearsarge Regional High School students who traveled to Italy during February vacation were told Sunday to stay home for a week in the unlikely event they were exposed to the new Covid-19 virus while abroad. Superintendent Winfried Feneberg wrote in an email that the decision was made �out of an abundance of caution.� The school will utilize technology to ensure the students can continue their studies, he said.

The students traveled to France, the United Kingdom and Italy, the latter of which has reported more than 1,500 people infected with the Covid-19 virus. None of the students are showing any symptoms of illness, a spokesman said.

The announcement came on the same day Rhode Island disclosed its first confirmed case of the virus. The person who tested positive traveled to Italy in mid-February.

Infections of the virus in Italy rose 50% Sunday and the U.S. government advised Americans against any travel to two regions in northern Italy.

How to best stay safe

While there are fears over the many unknowns connected with the new coronavirus, Covid-19, the steps people can take to help protect themselves and their families are the same as what is advised for influenza or any number of other viruses.

Most medical experts agree there is no reason for people to panic, or to start wearing face masks, and that doing so would give people a false sense of security.

The Centers for Disease Control has issued guidelines for best practices and of course, good hand hygiene is number one. When it comes to face masks, the experts say their use is limited at best.

Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire's state epidemiologist said that the mortality rate for this coronavirus is at about 2 percent, and for seasonal flu, it is less than 0.1%. He said masks are really only advisable for people who are already sick, to protect other people who they may come in contact with.

"How the mask fits is important," said Chan. "They can restrict breathing and be hard to wear 24/7. The people still touch surfaces, then their eyes. Infection will happen that way."

Jackie Dockham, director of infection prevention at Exeter Hospital, said she watches the news and sees people wearing masks everywhere in places like China. She said there is no clear evidence that wearing a mask in the community provides protection for non-sick people, and in any case, many of the people she sees are using them wrong.

"They are in busy places, like airports," said Dockham. "I watch nine out of 10 of them constantly touching the mask, or wearing them under their nose. Anything else they touched can make the mask dirty, infected. People are not wearing them properly, and even if they do, they should not be touching their face, eyes, or anywhere above the mask while they are wearing them. I do think masks give people a false sense of security."

Because of the fear people have surrounding Covid-19, Dockham said, there is a shortage of supplies of masks in some countries already.

"You can�t reuse the mask but people are doing that," said Dockham. "They are wear-once-and-throw-away items. Wearing them more than once may be doing more harm than good."

A surgical mask can protect the wearer from the risk of splashes of biological fluids, said Dr. Kasra Djalayer of Families First.

"In this case, the surgical mask must have a waterproof layer," said Djalayer. "It can also be equipped with a visor to protect the eyes. But a surgical mask does not protect against 'airborne' infectious agents so it will not prevent the wearer from being potentially contaminated by a virus such as the coronavirus. On the other hand, a contagious patient should wear a surgical mask as soon as contagion is suspected. Respiratory coronaviruses probably spread in a fashion similar to that of rhinoviruses (common cold), via direct contact with infected secretions or large aerosol droplets. Immunity develops soon after infection but wanes gradually over time. Reinfection is common. In hospital settings, spread among pediatric patients probably occurs through shedding by their infected caretakers. Outbreaks are also common in long-term care facilities for older adults."

Djalayer said preventive measures are the same as for rhinovirus infections, including hand washing and the careful disposal of materials infected with nasal secretions.

"The use of surface disinfectants is also an important issue in infection control, since coronaviruses appear to survive for one or more days after drying on surfaces such as stainless steel, plastic, or cloth," he said.

Dockham said a better way to protect the public is for sick people to stay home.

"If you have any respiratory systems, avoid crowds," said Dockham. "Do not go to a movie theater and sit with people. Make sure to keep three feet away from other people. Just stay home."

Good hand hygiene is for everyone. Dockham said teach children how to properly wash their hands.

"Use soap or waterless hand rubs often," said Dockham. "Teach your children and yourself how to cough properly, into your elbow, not your hand. Sneeze into a tissue and throw it away. Do not reuse it. Refrain from touching your face, mouth, eyes and nose. Be mindful of this."

Djalayer said people can boost their immune system to help ward of viruses, in a very simple way, by getting adequate sleep, 7-9 hours a night. He said certain supplements like vitamin C, D and zinc can help the immune system but advises discussing adding supplements to your routine with your primary care physician.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.