October 9, 2020 - COVID-19 on College Campuses
COVID-19 on College Campuses
October 9, 2020
Yesterday, we were cheering Alabama’s status as one of a handful of states with declining 7-day average daily cases compared to the prior week (-17%). Today, Alabama reversed course in dramatic fashion (+10%), proving once again that this virus is truly humbling.
That’s what happens when new cases jump from 557 to 1,490 (incl. 254 probables) in a single day. The number of tests also spiked, hitting 11,738 today. Our weekly positivity rate now stands at 12.86%, enough to remain just barely in the top 10 in the nation.
In a Washington Post survey, Alabama rejoined 44 other states with increasing rates of infection. Among the states that broke their own previous single-day records this week: Wisconsin; Missouri; Ohio; Utah; West Virginia; North Dakota; Indiana; Oklahoma and Montana. The U.S. topped 50,000 daily cases for the third consecutive day.
Current statewide hospitalizations also spiked from 754 yesterday to 816 today, only the second time we have topped 800 since September 14. While our State’s hospitals are a long way from being overrun, like they nearly were in July, this could be the start of a concerning trend. We also lost 16 more Alabamians to COVID-19, bringing our overall total to 2,653.
The University of Alabama System released its weekly COVID report for the week ending 10/8. On the Tuscaloosa campus, the number of newly infected students, faculty & staff increased from 33 last week to 59 this week. At UAB, the number increased from 27 to 59. At UAH, the number declined from 13 to 3. And at UAB Hospital, there was little change - from 21 last week to 22 newly infected staff this week.
The NY Times published an interesting survey of COVID infections at nationwide colleges and universities (students, faculty & staff) from the start of the pandemic through October 8. Here are the totals at SEC institutions in descending order: (1) Univ. of Georgia - 3,888; (2) Univ. of Florida - 2,904; (3) Univ. of Alabama - 2,704; (4) Univ. of South Carolina - 2,494; (5) Univ. of Kentucky - 2,070; (6) Univ. of Arkansas - 2,034; (7) Auburn - 1,982; (8) Missouri - 1,773; (9) Texas A&M - 1,661; (10) Univ. of Tennessee - 1,562; (11); LSU - 1,082; (12) University of Mississippi - 701; (13) Mississippi State - 542; (14) Vanderbilt University - 252.
Here are today’s 14-day case totals in Alabama:
9/26 - 933
9/27 - 730
9/28 - 662
9/29 - 571
9/30 -1,147
10/1 -1,043
10/2 - 954
10/3 -1,682
10/4 - 789
10/5 - 544
10/6 - 764
10/7 - 941
10/8 - 557
10/9 -1,490
Jefferson County had 197 new cases (incl 15 probables). Marengo County, a small Black Belt county whose county seat is the town of Demopolis, was second with 93 cases, all confirmed. The total for Marengo must include some backlogs. As of today, only 4 counties have 14-day positivity rates below 10%, including Jefferson (9.59%).