For Immediate Release
The COVID-19 dashboard released today by the University of Alabama System shows a significant overall decrease in the number of positive cases among students at the University of Alabama.
Student numbers at the University of Alabama dropped sharply, with 294 positives over the last seven days, compared to 846 for the prior week. At UAB and UAH, numbers remain in low double digits, with 27 UAB students testing positive and 11 at UAH over the last week.
“I want to thank our students throughout the University of Alabama System for following the temporary protocols to protect everyone’s health and safety,” said UA System Chancellor Finis St. John. “Your efforts are paying off and we greatly appreciate your hard work and sacrifice.”
In remarks today during a visit to Tuscaloosa with Chancellor St. John, university officials, student leaders, community representatives and others, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Administration’s Coronavirus Response Coordinator, commended the UA System for the decision to continue on-campus instruction, emphasizing that its surge and sentinel testing programs are essential to completing the semester.
University officials caution that the number of positive results may increase as testing continues after Labor Day travel. The University will monitor the numbers closely and continue working with city officials and business leaders to help ensure the health and safety of the local community.
The UA System dashboard, which is updated weekly, reports that at UA only 15 percent of isolation beds are currently in use, compared with about 40 percent last week. UA President Stuart Bell announced earlier this week that student services in campus isolation facilities have been significantly enhanced and the campus COVID hotline is now fully staffed.
