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Shaun Chaiyabhat is live a Boston University with t impact there. Students ***BEN*** So far there are more than 81-thousand confirmed cases of coronavirus across the globe.... Most of the three-thousand deaths are in Ch

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Health officials announced Wednesday that hundreds of people remain under quarantine in Massachusetts as a precaution related to COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus. They emphasized, however, that the risk of infection here remains low. To date, only one person has tested positive for the virus in Massachusetts. That patient, a University of Massachusetts Boston student identified only as a man in his 20s, had traveled to Wuhan, China, and arrived in Boston via Logan International Airport. His diagnosis was announced earlier this month.Massachusetts Department of Public Health officials said Wednesday that the patient is doing well and continuing to recover. During a conference call, DPH officials also said that 608 individuals have undergone quarantine procedures in this state. So far, 377 of those have completed the two-week process and were released without symptoms. Another 231, all of whom had recently visited China, are still being monitored. During quarantine, patients stay away from the public for 14 days and report their health condition to DPH officials. Symptoms of this infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and pneumonia. Health officials reiterated the message that the risk of COVID-19 in Massachusetts is low and that local hospitals are adequately supplied for facing potential future cases of the virus."What's unique about Boston, we're a gateway to Europe," said Dr. Leonard Marcus, of the Harvard Department of Health Policy and Management. "There are cases in Europe, and so, there are many, many planes that come in here every day."In part because of Boston's role as a transportation hub, infectious disease and crisis management experts suggest that individuals should also be prepared. "It's going to require each and every one of us, personally, to take on the responsibility," Marcus said. "If you're not feeling well, if you're sick, don't be a hero and go to work, don't send your kids to school."On Tuesday, Stonehill College ordered students who were studying abroad in Italy to return home within 48 hours due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.Boston University journalism student Armand Manoukian, who is studying abroad in London, said he and his friends made the decision to cancel an upcoming trip to Venice."Technically, Venice is still safe for travel, (but) they shut down Carnival, they shut down all the museums and told people to stay inside as much as possible," Manoukian said. "There have no tentative warnings that it might be curtains for us over here. As of right now, the (United Kingdom) is fairly safe, so I don't think that will be an issue anytime soon."Last month, Boston University indefinitely postponed its study abroad program in Shanghai."I was all prepared. I had my visas all set up. I had my flights booked," said BU student Geneve Lau. "I definitely feel like I am safe here. I'm really glad that I didn't up going and something bad ended up happening."UMass Amherst also suspended its study abroad program in China, which seven students were set to take part in.