UAB to shift COVID rules, treat virus like ‘flu’ for new school year - AL.com

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is now advising students to treat the virus as they would the flu or strep throat: Students should continue to get vaccinated, boosted, tested and treated if infected, officials said in an email to students Monday, but the university will no longer contact trace or report cases to faculty.

“As the virus has waned in our highly vaccinated campus population and the community around us, UAB infectious disease and public health experts agree that now is a reasonable time to adjust certain protocols to be consistent with our traditional cold/flu precautions,” read an email signed by Dr.

10, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported a 7-day average of about 600 cases and 100 hospitalizations statewide, with about 2.4 million Alabamians who have completed their vaccine series so far.

“As public health, infectious disease and university health professionals, we will stay vigilant in following the evolving pandemic and ensure that UAB decision makers have the right data, projections and context to make the best decisions for our campus community,” they wrote.

According to the University of Alabama’s COVID-19 community guidelines, masks are still required in medical facilities on the main campus, but not in classrooms or other community spaces.