RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health is investigating three possible cases of the novel coronavirus.

The three patients, two in central Virginia and one in Northern Virginia, meet the clinical and epidemiologic criteria for the virus that’s prompted China to put millions under quarantine, the Virginia Department of Health said Sunday.

The health department has not released more specific information about where the patients live, work or have traveled.

Specific details about the patients won’t be released to protect their privacy, health officials say. Officials say they are working closely with the patients and those they’ve had close contact with recently.

Health officials in Virginia say that patients under investigation generally went to their doctor with specific symptoms and had traveled to China within 14 days of feeling ill. Samples will be collected and sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing.

At this point, coronavirus has not been confirmed in the three patients.

George Mason University’s Student Health Services released a letter to students Sunday addressing reports that a student who had returned from China was showing symptoms similar to the virus.

“This information is being shared on social media and communicated within social and academic networks at Mason,” the letter said.

The university did not confirm the reports were true or that a student was one of the three people.

As of Sunday night, five cases have been confirmed around in the U.S.: One in Arizona, two in California, one in Chicago and one in Washington state.

Coronavirus causes mild to moderate illness similar to the common cold, the Virginia Department of Health says. Symptoms include fever, cough and trouble breathing, officials say.

Researchers are still learning much about the disease and how it affects people. It’s unclear how easily it spreads, health officials say.