School systems throughout Alabama reported more than
9,000 new cases of COVID-19 this week. The Alabama Department of Public
Health’s (ADPH) K-12 COVID-19 dashboard showed that 9,195 cases of COVID-19
have been recorded from 84 of the state’s 143 school districts.

Last week, the state’s education system recorded
4,337 COVID-19 episodes.

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The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)
and ADPH has partnered on the state’s K-12 COVID-19 dashboard, which
aggregates COVID-19 data from Alabama school districts to “give a statewide perspective of COVID-19 cases and operating status in the K-12
environment.”

COVID-19 cases should be reported on a weekly basis
by school districts.

“The 2021-2022 school year has barely begun, but
school districts in Alabama have already sent home thousands of students who
have tested positive for COVID-19 or come into close contact with a person with
the virus,” said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. “Now that in-person
classes are underway, there has been a 700 percent rise in childhood infections
compared with this same week in 2020.”

In his September message, Harris stated that
discussing vaccines with their child’s medical practitioner is the most effective approach to safeguard youngsters.

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 “Fully
vaccinated people are less likely to spread the virus that causes COVID-19, so
getting all family members 12 and older vaccinated will help protect children,
their younger siblings, and other people at increased risk for severe illness
from COVID-19,” Harris added.

“Children need to have a physical presence in the
classroom because we know how many harmful effects there can be in keeping them
away — mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially,” Harris said.

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According to the
Alabama Hospital Association, there were 120 more individuals in need of ICU
care on Thursday than there were ICU beds in the state. On Thursday, the state
had 2,838 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, just 246 more than the
previous high. According to the organization, 56 of those admitted to the
hospital on Thursday were youngsters.