Tuscaloosa Adds 84 New Coronavirus Cases, School Cases Also Climb

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The number of new coronavirus cases continues to trend in a worrisome direction headed into Thanksgiving next week, as Tuscaloosa County added 84 new confirmed cases on Thursday.

Bamatracker.com - an independent online data aggregator that is widely used across Alabama — reports another 34 new cases for Tuscaloosa are listed as probable. The spike in new cases is also only the third time since Oct. 31 that the county recorded more than 80 new cases in a single day, with the last spike coming in the amount of 107 new COVID-19 cases on Nov. 13.

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In what could be viewed as a positive sign, the inpatient situation at DCH Health System appears to be steadily improving, dropping to 59 hospitalizations as of Thursday after rising over the last couple of weeks. While the overall number may be lower than the 60-patient threshold repeatedly cited by city officials as it relates to concern with hospitalizations, DCH did add 13 new inpatient coronavirus cases on Thursday — marking the second straight day where the system reported more than 10 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Thursday's influx of new coronavirus patients is also the highest single day total since Nov. 9, when the hospital system reported 21 new admissions for COVID-19 in a single day.

Tuscaloosa City Schools also reported 70 more students observing isolation protocol since Tuesday, in addition to adding five new positive cases among students, which brings the current total to 15 cases and 281 students in isolation for exposure or positivity.

The number of TCS employees in isolation is following a similar trend, according to the latest data posted by the system, which shows 67 of more than 1,400 TCS employees currently in isolation. Patch reported earlier this week that the school system was hit particularly hard with respect to its transportation department, resulting in drivers being forced run double and triple routes.

According to the latest data from the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Tuscaloosa County School System reported a total of 77 new cases among students and employees this week, ranking the county second only to 87 new cases reported in the Jefferson County School District.

As school districts across the country once again start to close as coronavirus cases climb, both the city and county school systems have expressed their desire to continue with in-person instruction.

"I know that many of you have seen news reports of possible school closures in other parts of the country, and even temporary closures recently here in Alabama," said TCSS Superintendent Keri Johnson earlier this week. "However, keeping our schools open for in-person instruction continues to be the goal and intention of the Tuscaloosa County School System. We look forward to completing the semester in-person, after Thanksgiving."

Patch has previously reported that both government and education officials in Tuscaloosa County have insisted the spread among students and employees is the result of community spreading due to gatherings, and not spread through institutional contact.

Another area to watch to end the week will be the number of new cases reported on the University of Alabama's Tuscaloosa campus. Last week, the UA System reported 77 new cases identified among students — the most since the testing period of Sept. 11-17. Faculty and staff have also seen positive cases climb among their ranks, with a total of 49 employees testing positive since Oc.t 30.

The UA System will update its COVID-19 case totals on Friday.

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