UA Confirms 846 New Student Cases Identified Over Last Week
TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The University of Alabama System on Friday confirmed 846 new COVID-19 cases among students on the Tuscaloosa campus over the last week, bringing UA's cumulative total to more than 2,000 new cases since the onset of the pandemic.
The number of positives identified from Aug. 28 through Sept. 3 is the highest total for a single week thus far for the UA campus, compared to 1,043 COVID-19 cases confirmed in the first two weeks of in-person instruction. The total since classes began now sits at 1,889.
The latest update also included data for UAB and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, who reported 19 and seven new cases, respectively.
On the Tuscaloosa campus, 12 more faculty and staff also tested positive for the virus since last Friday. In total, 178 UA faculty and staff have tested positive since classes resumed.
Click here to view the UA System COVID-19 Dashboard
According to the latest dashboard update, the Tuscaloosa campus is currently at 40% occupancy for its on-campus isolation space.
The new numbers are expected to weigh heavily into the decision to re-open Tuscaloosa bars, which were closed almost two weeks ago by an executive order from Mayor Walt Maddox at the urging of the University of Alabama. The emergency directive is set to expire Monday.
City spokesman Richard Rush told Patch the city would be providing a press release to explain the next steps later on Friday.
This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes available.
This article originally appeared on the Tuscaloosa Patch
