INDIANAPOLIS — Saturday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic:
State reports 7,793 cases, 78 additional deaths
The Indiana State Department of Heath on Saturday reported 7,793 new cases of COVID-19 among Indiana residents, bringing the number of Hoosiers who have tested positive for the virus to 375,019 since the start of the pandemic in early March.
ISDH reported 78 additional deaths Saturday that occurred between Nov. 26 and Friday, bringing the state's total of confirmed deaths from the virus to 5,910.
No. 1 Gonzaga vs No. 2 Baylor scrapped over positive tests
The big basketball matchup between No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor schedule for Bankers Life Fieldhouse has been called off. The game was scrapped hours before tip-off Saturday because of two positive COVID-19 tests in the Bulldogs program.
A joint statement from the schools said one player and one nonplayer of the Gonzaga travel party tested positive. The unidentified player did not play in Wednesday’s game against West Virginia.
Both teams decided to cancel the game after consultation with local health authorities and both team physicians. The teams have agreed to attempt to reschedule the game at a later date.
State healthcare workers first up for COVID-19 vaccine
As Indiana announces its preparations to begin coronavirus vaccinations for some 400,000 healthcare workers by the end of the month, the inoculation timeline for the state’s nursing home residents is still to be determined.
Chief medical officer for the Indiana State Department of Health Dr. Lindsay Weaver said during a webinar meeting Friday that anyone who provides care to patients or is exposed to infectious materials will be the first in the state to be offered the vaccine.
But while healthcare workers within long-term care facilities are included in the earliest criteria, Weaver said the availability of the vaccine for residents of those facilities “will depend on what we have available."
Latest US, world numbers
There have been more than 14.3 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 279 thousand deaths and 5.47 million people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been more than 65.9 million confirmed cases with more than 1.52 million deaths and 42.4 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.
Moscow opens dozens of coronavirus vaccination centers
Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for a COVID-19 vaccination in Moscow starting Saturday, a precursor to a Russia-wide immunization effort.
The vaccination effort comes three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a “large-scale” COVID-19 immunization campaign even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols.
The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V jab will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer jabs to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.
COVID-19 relief: What's on the table as Congress seeks deal
After lengthy delays, optimism is finally building in Washington for a COVID-19 aid bill that would offer relief for businesses, the unemployed, schools and health care providers, among others struggling as caseloads are spiking.
Under pressure from moderates in both parties, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have initiated late-game negotiations in hopes of combining a relief package of, in all likelihood, less than $1 trillion with a separate $1.4 trillion governmentwide omnibus spending bill.
Success is not certain and considerable differences remain over details, such as whether to issue a second round of $1,200 direct payments to most Americans.