INDIANAPOLIS — Thursday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
Butler postpones Sunday basketball game after positive COVID-19 test
Butler University is postponing Sunday's basketball game against Eastern Illinois after a positive COVID-19 test. Butler did not say if that test was a student-athlete or one of the coaches or staff.
The positive test came after the Bulldogs’ season-opening win over Western Michigan. The team is tested three times each week as part of the NCAA and BIG EAST protocols.
Close contacts to the positive case were notified and told to quarantine.
There's no word yet on when the game with Eastern Illinois will be rescheduled.
ISDH update
The Indiana State Department of Health reports 6,434 new cases for a total of 318,894 since the pandemic began.
The are also 63 more deaths from COVID-19 reported for a total of 5,295.
Drumstick Dash goes virtual this Thanksgiving
Organizers with the Drumstick Dash, benefiting Wheeler Mission, had to make the difficult decision to turn this year's run into an entirely virtual one.
That means you can chart your own 2.75 or 4.6-mile course Thanksgiving morning.
In a statement, leaders said, "While we know this may come as a disappointment for many, erring on the side of extreme caution is the right thing to do. The health and safety of our neighbors and loved ones must come first."
Donations are still being accepted.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 12.77 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 262,000 deaths and 4.83 million people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been more than 60.45 million confirmed cases with more than 1.42 million deaths and 38.74 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.
Ravens-Steelers primetime Thanksgiving game moved to Sunday after positive COVID-19 tests
The Thanksgiving night game between the Ravens and Steelers has been switched to Sunday afternoon because of coronavirus issues with Baltimore.
The NFL announced the move Wednesday, placing the game at 1 p.m. EST on NBC. Previously, it was scheduled for NBC's prime-time telecast on Thanksgiving Day.
Baltimore placed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee on the reserve/COVID-19, joining running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and defensive tackle Brandon Williams. The Ravens also have been doing team work virtually.
The Ravens said later Wednesday they had disciplined a staff member, reportedly a strength coach, for not obeying league protocols.
AstraZeneca manufacturing error clouds COVID-19 vaccine study results
AstraZeneca and Oxford University on Wednesday acknowledged a manufacturing error that is raising questions about preliminary results of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
A statement describing the error came days after the company and the university described the shots as “highly effective” and made no mention of why some study participants didn't receive as much vaccine in the first of two shots as expected.
In a surprise, the group of volunteers that got a lower dose seemed to be much better protected than the volunteers who got two full doses. In the low-dose group, AstraZeneca said, the vaccine appeared to be 90% effective. In the group that got two full doses, the vaccine appeared to be 62% effective. Combined, the drugmakers said the vaccine appeared to be 70% effective. But the way in which the results were arrived at and reported by the companies has led to pointed questions from experts.
The partial results announced Monday are from large ongoing studies in the U.K. and Brazil designed to determine the optimal dose of vaccine, as well as examine safety and effectiveness. Multiple combinations and doses were tried in the volunteers. They were compared to others who were given a meningitis vaccine or a saline shot.