University of Alabama Reports More Than 500 Cases of Coronavirus Since Classes Began Last Week

In an email statement obtained by WVTM13, Bell released a message to all students, faculty and staff regarding the COVID-19 situation.

"Despite the robust testing, training, health and safety measures we carefully and clearly implemented, there is an unacceptable rise in positive COVID cases on our campus," he wrote.

He noted that "testing, mask wearing, social distancing, personal hygiene and compliance with crowd size limits" will be enforced throughout the remainder of the semester and added that "violations to our health and safety protocols, both on and off campus, are subject to harsh disciplinary action, up to and including suspension from UA."

During the Monday press conference, Bell also added that the goal is to keep the university's students on campus and to continue to have in-person classes.

"What we are focusing on, these steps, these protocols, those are critical in order for us to continue that goal [of keeping campus open]," Bell said. "We know that early intervention has the best chance at changing the trajectory of where we are going. The early reading on that trajectory is not one we like. What we are trying to do is to change that with these changes of protocols."

UA joins a growing list of other colleges across the nation struggling with virus containment this fall. Last week Notre Dame halted in-person classes for two weeks following a surge of COVID-19 cases just eight days after beginning its fall semester. Similarly, an Oklahoma State University sorority is under quarantine after 23 members tested positive for the respiratory illness days before the start of the fall semester.

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