The University of Alabama System on Friday afternoon released its weekly update with COVID-19 related data from each of its three distinct institutions: the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

The data — covering the seven-day period from Friday, September 18, through Thursday, September 24 — was impressive for all three universities.

The University of Alabama saw yet another incredible decline in the number of new cases week-over-week.

Only 48 students tested positive at UA during the latest period, a 60% decrease from the week prior and a monumental 95% decrease from earlier in the month.

Another great sign is that UA set a record high for the amount of quarantine/isolation rooms available on-campus. Only 1.74% of these rooms are occupied (9/518), down from 3.88% seven days ago.

Additionally, numbers at UAB and UAH continue to look strong. In Birmingham, 16 students tested positive compared to 13 at UAH. These are both week-over-week decreases.

At UAB, zero isolation rooms are being used — a landmark feat; at UAH, 25.9% of isolation rooms are in use (22/87 rooms), a slight improvement from the previous week.

A release from the System advised, “No cases have been traced to contact in the classroom on any of the three campuses. There are no reports of current hospitalization.”

Finally, sentinel testing of students, faculty and staff is ongoing System-wide, with less than 1% of individuals from this form of sample testing being positive. A release from the System advised this indicates “virus mitigation strategies are effective and there is a very low rate of asymptomatic positive cases throughout the UA System.”

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, has credited the “strong leadership” and meticulous planning of the UA System for its successful return-to-campus efforts.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn