More than 500 COVID-19 cases reported on Alabama campus

People line up outside to wait for limited access indoors to order food from Taco Mama, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. More than 20,000 students returned to campus at the University of Alabama for the first time since spring break, with numerous school and city codes in effect to limit the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

by: The Associated Press

Posted: Aug 25, 2020 / 04:51 PM EDT

Updated: Aug 25, 2020 / 04:51 PM EDT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The University of Alabama has recorded 531 cases of COVID-19 on campus since the fall semester began last week.

The university system released the number of students, faculty and staff testing positive Tuesday, a day after Tuscaloosa’s mayor ordered bars closed.

The university had earlier announced that initial testing found few students returning to campus on Aug. 19 were positive for COVID-19 but said subsequent testing last week found more cases.

Auburn University has also seen an uptick in cases since students returned to campus.

Auburn reported that 202 students and five employees at the man Auburn campus tested positive for COVID-19 between Aug. 15 and Aug. 21.