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).
This is the final time the dashboard will be updated for the fall 2020 semester, which — as designed — will be completed remotely from this week through final exams so students do not return to campus following Thanksgiving.
The last weekly update of this unprecedented semester showed that 189 students System-wide tested positive for coronavirus from November 13-19, which saw record testing.
Even as the number of confirmed cases surged around the state of Alabama, the System experienced only a slight increase in its number of positive tests — and a number well below August peaks.
Another highlight of the latest System data was merely nine positive test results among students, faculty and staff who participated in the System’s sentinel testing program, which is essentially a sampling of the campus population. This indicates a minimal rate of asymptomatic positive cases, per previous System releases on sentinel testing.
The UA System also offered students exit testing at no-charge prior to their return home for the holidays and winter break.
With more than 700 beds available for COVID-positive students needing isolation space, the occupancy rate for the past week System-wide was less than 1%.
Additionally, of the 17,500 clinical enterprise employees in the UAB Health System, the number of positive tests decreased 11% week over week, per the latest update.
While members of the national media — and some in-state — clamored to kill the in-person fall semester, the University of Alabama System has now proven that its meticulous planning, comprehensive mitigation strategies and data-driven adaptability were successful. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, has previously spoken to this, as has UA System Chancellor Finis St. John.
On Friday, St. John in a statement commended the work of the UA System Health and Safety Task Force for developing and implementing the plan that enabled the three institutions to safely and responsibly remain open this semester.
“We knew from the outset of the global pandemic that the world-renowned medical expertise in the UAB Health System would be the most valuable resource any university could hope for in helping keep our students, faculty and staff safe. They have met and far surpassed our expectations,” St. John said.
In addition to expressing appreciation to the System’s board of trustees, St. John further thanked Dr. Selwyn Vickers and Katie Osburne, who co-chaired the task force, along with Charlie Taylor, who has coordinated its daily operations.
“We are finalizing the updated plan for Spring and much work remains to be done, but we are pleased with the outcome of this Fall semester and the enormous sacrifices our students, faculty, staff and families have made. On behalf of our Board and leadership team, I want to express my heartfelt thanks,” St. John added.
This came immediately on the heels of another huge win for the UA System leadership and staff, as the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Research Building at UAB received the $50 million in funding from the State of Alabama needed to be completed. This “transformational” precision medicine project could make Birmingham the “Silicon Valley of Biomedicine.”
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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