University of Alabama Reports 500+ COVID-19 Cases In First Week Since Reopening

The mayor of Tuscaloosa has shut down bars in the area to curb the spread of the virus on campus.

President of UA Stuart Bell joins other officials in a press conference Monday about the surge in COVID-19 Cases on campus | Facebook/ University of Alabama
President of UA Stuart Bell joins other officials in a press conference Monday about the surge in COVID-19 Cases on campus | Facebook/ University of Alabama

The University of Alabama reported on Monday that more than 500 people have tested positive for COVID-19 less than a week after students returned to campus for classes.

The university reported that 566 people in the UA system have tested positive since August 19. Of those cases, 531 were reported in students and faculty at the university’s main campus in Tuscaloosa, according to the school’s coronavirus dashboard. The remaining cases were reported at UA locations in Birmingham and Huntsville and among other employees.

Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox shut down bars on Monday for the next two weeks to help curb the spread of the virus as students returned. According to AL.com, fraternity and sorority houses have been limited to events and access to common areas within their houses.

According to the university, the 566 positive tests do not include entry testing. The dashboard reports that 400 of the more than 30,000 students who were entry tested were positive for COVID-19.

The university’s president Stuart Bell said last week in a statement: “The eyes of the nation are following us closely, and I am confident we will meet and exceed our status as frontrunners.” He also said the campus has added new sanitizing measures and safety protocols, including 450 additional beds solely for isolation.

“Despite the robust testing, training, health and safety measures we carefully and clearly implemented, there is an unacceptable rise in positive COVID cases on our campus,” Bell said in another statement on Sunday. “UAPD and the Tuscaloosa Police Department are partnering to monitor bars, restaurants and off-campus residences where the city’s COVID-19 ordinances and UA guidelines are not being followed.”

He added: “Violations to our health and safety protocols, both on and off campus, are subject to harsh disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from UA.”

The state of Alabama has reported more than 110,000 COVID-19 cases, including more than 10,000 in the last 14 days.

The opening at UA has been mirrored nationwide, as multiple universities and schools have welcomed students and staff back to in-person learning for the fall. Many schools have had to walk back their decision to reopen in person and return to virtual learning.

Notre Dame,University of Southern California, and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill have reported surges in cases since welcoming students back.

While schools resume classes, the World Health Organization announced last week that young people are driving the spread of COVID-19 worldwide.

“Many are unaware they’re infected—with very mild symptoms or none at all,” WHO’s Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr. Takeshi Kasai said during a press conference. “This can result in them unknowingly passing on the virus to others.”