Students at a popular university have been left in a state of fear following the outbreak of coronavirus in the university.
Students (File photo)
The University of Alabama has recorded 566 cases of the deadly coronavirus just six days after it reopened the school for activities.
According to Yahoo News, photos circulated on social media showed what appeared to be the university's students crowding outside bars in Tuscaloosa on August 19.
The university said it would discipline students that violate health and safety protocols both on and off campus.
The institution's president, Stuart Bell, said in a letter that the increase in COVID-19 cases is unacceptable.
He said harsh disciplinary actions that would be taken against violators of health and safety protocols include suspension.
The University of Alabama is not alone on COVID-19 cases, recall that one week after reopening, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill cancelled in-class lectures due to cases of coronavirus in the school. August 11 was the first day of the new academic year.
The decision was made after more than 130 students tested positive for COVID-19 and 300 forced to quarantine a week after the school reopened.
The disclosure was made in a letter posted to students on the campus website by the university's chancellor.
The school said classes would be held online going forward, along with academic support services.