Some families are altering their Thanksgiving plans in the face of a raging COVID pandemic that’s now killing an average of more than 1,500 Americans per day.

According to data from John Hopkins University, the seven-day rolling average for deaths is now 1,510 -- an increase of more than 500 in two weeks.

Globally, the U.S. has seen the most deaths by far, right at 257,000.

According to the Upper Cumberland Medical Society, which serves 14 counties including Warren County, Thanksgiving has a strong chance to be a super-spreader event.

The medical society says 27% of Thanksgiving gatherings of 10 or more people residing in this region will have at least one asymptomatic COVID carrier present. The organization suggests gathering and eating outdoors and remaining six feet apart.

Even with warnings from health officials and some Americans changing their holiday plans, others are still heading to airports in large numbers.

More than 1 million people were screened by the Transportation Safety Administration on Sunday — the most of any day since March. However, travel numbers are much lower than previous Thanksgiving holidays.

Americans are hopeful a vaccine will soon be approved.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Monday late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that is cheaper and easier to distribute than some of its rivals. 

AstraZeneca is the third major drug company to report encouraging news in recent weeks as the world waits for scientific breakthroughs that will bring an end to a pandemic that has wrought economic devastation and resulted in nearly 1.4 million confirmed deaths.

Before any vaccine is permitted in the U.S., it must be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, which requires study on thousands of people. Normally, the process to approve a new vaccine can take about a decade. But the federal government is using various methods to dramatically speed up the process.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.