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LAS CRUCES - Two New Mexico State University students who had been studying abroad in Italy have flown home and are under self-quarantine as a cautionary measure against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Dr. Judi Voelz, medical director at the Aggie Health and Wellness Center, said two students who were studying abroad in Italy chose to fly home as coronavirus spread in the country.

In response to rising numbers of new coronavirus cases and deaths, Italy imposed nationwide travel restrictions Monday to contain the virus.

As of March 10, Italy had more than 10,000 confirmed cases and 631 deaths.

One student flew home March 1 and another flew back March 5, according to university spokesperson Minerva Baumann.

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The two students have been under voluntary 14-day quarantine in their homes. One is in El Paso and another is in Truth or Consequences, Voelz said. Neither have shown any symptoms so far.

According to NMSU's Office of Education Abroad, 28 NMSU students are still studying abroad this semester.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have designated China, Iran, Italy and South Korea with Level 3 Travel Health Notices since the spread of the virus in those places is considered "widespread" with "ongoing transmission."

Baumann said all study abroad students are told during orientation that they'll have to come home if the U.S. State Department declares a Level 3 travel advisory to the country they are studying in. The State Department declared a Level 3 advisory for Italy Feb. 29.

As new cases of COVID-19 emerge across the United States, NMSU is one of several local institutions and agencies preparing to handle a potential outbreak, even with the number of cases in New Mexico still at zero.

As of March 10, the CDC said the United States has 647 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 25 deaths. The virus has been confirmed in 36 U.S. states including Washington, D.C.

The university has been evaluating students through the Aggie Health and Wellness Center.

Voelz said NMSU students who exhibit symptoms associated with the virus should call the health and wellness center before walking in to avoid potentially spreading the infection. Telephone triage nurses will advise students by asking them their recent travel history and how sick they are.

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In consultation with New Mexico Department of Health guidance, Voelz said the center has tended to see lower risk patients for evaluation inside the clinic. Those patients are ones who haven't been to heavily affected areas and aren't as sick.

Voelz said higher risk students, those who are sicker and have been to high-risk areas of the U.S. or Level 3 countries, will be advised to visit a local hospital instead of walking into the NMSU clinic.

In the last week Voelz personally evaluated four students exhibiting common coronavirus symptoms who had a soft travel history, she said. None of the visits showed a likely coronavirus infection, she said.

The university is also weighing whether it will still host four upcoming international trips for students due to the virus, Voelz said.

The trips are slated for the beginning of the summer, with one planned for Italy.

"Our philosophy on campus is calm anticipation with a focus on prevention and preparedness," Voelz told the Las Cruces City Council during a work session Monday.

The university utilizes an "all-hazards emergency operation plan" which deals with all types of emergencies, Voelz said.

If the university did have to quarantine students on campus, Voelz said the school has some freestanding, vacant housing it will use. The university would also make sure certain dining staff could deliver quarantined students meals while wearing proper medical garb.

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As for now, Voelz said it's still "business as usual" on campus.

"We've not canceled basketball. We've not canceled concerts or any classes," Voelz said.

Michael McDevitt can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.