Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.
State reports 3,505 new cases, 46 additional deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health reported 3,505 new COVID-19 cases among Hoosiers Saturday. This is the second-highest daily total of cases since the pandemic began. A total of 179,358 Hoosiers have tested positive.
The seven-day rate for unique individuals testing positive is now 15.1 percent, with the cumulative positive test rate now at 10.6 percent.
Deaths confirmed from the virus have risen to 4,096 since the pandemic began after 46 additional deaths that occurred between Oct. 17 and Friday were officially recorded Saturday.
Illinois quarterback to miss Purdue game after positive test
Illinois senior quarterback Brandon Peters and redshirt freshman tight end Griffin Moore were both sidelined for today's game against Purdue following positive test results for COVID-19, according to WAND.
Big Ten Conference protocol requires them to be out 21 days.
Contact tracing also sidelined several other players for Purdue and next week’s game against Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said the total number of positive COVID-19 cases within the Badgers’ football program has increased to 22. Alvarez told ESPN’s “College GameDay” that 12 football players and 10 staffers have tested positive.
The ninth-ranked Badgers had been scheduled to play at Nebraska on Saturday but Wisconsin officials announced Wednesday they were calling off that game and pausing team activities for a week due to a coronavirus outbreak within the program.
The Badgers’ next scheduled game is Nov. 7 at home against Purdue.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 9 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 6 a.m. ET Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 229,700 deaths and 3.57 million people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been more than 45.67 million confirmed cases with more than 1.19 million deaths and 29.7 million recoveries.
The real number of people infected by the virus around the world is believed to be much higher — perhaps 10 times higher in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — given testing limitations and the many mild cases that have gone unreported or unrecognized.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.
Indiana reports 3,000-plus new COVID-19 cases for 2nd day
Indiana reported more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day Friday as the state’s new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to surge.
The 3,205 new infections the Indiana State Department of Health reported came one day after the state agency reported 3,649 new infections. The cases reported Thursday set a daily high of newly reported cases of COVID-19 and were the first time Indiana had recorded more than 3,000 positive coronavirus cases in one day.
The state agency also reported 26 newly recorded COVID-19 deaths, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to 4,286, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections.
Kentucky reports near-record cases
Kentucky reported a near-record number of new coronavirus cases Friday as the surging outbreak continued sending more people to hospitals, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
“This is a dangerous time. We’re moving the wrong way,” the Democratic governor said as he urged Kentuckians to wear masks in public to protect themselves and those around them.
Beshear reported 1,941 new COVID-19 cases — the second-highest statewide daily total since the pandemic began — and 15 more virus-related deaths.
The state’s positivity rate reached 6.19% — the highest level since May 6, he said.
The recent surge has led to rising hospitalizations. On Friday, there were 974 patients hospitalized in Kentucky due to the virus, the governor said, noting the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care rose to 241.