WASHINGTON – The White House plans to hold indoor festive receptions in the coming weeks, despite ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks and advice from public health professionals urging Americans to sacrifice their usual festive gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
U.S. officials warned of Thursday’s Thanksgiving grand gatherings, instead urging Americans to stay home and stop visiting relatives in order to curb the spread of the new corona virus and protect vulnerable people as millions of people die over the weekend .
While the White House has announced that President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, will remain in Washington this week, skipping their annual Thanksgiving at Trump’s private club in Florida, the first lady plans to hold a festive reception a few days later, Nov. to an invitation obtained by ABC News.
This White House follows a series of past months linked to epidemic rashes, including Trump’s struggle with his own illness from late September to early October. A White House helper and four others have given positive results in recent days.
Stephanie Grisham, spokeswoman for the first lady, said the White House provides the safest possible environment for Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations, with smaller guest lists than in previous years, “necessary and accessible masks”, encouraging social distance and hand sanitizing.
“Guests will enjoy meals individually covered by the chefs at the plexiglass sheltered food stations. It applies to all beverages accepted, ”he said in a statement. “Attending parties will be a very personal choice. It is an old tradition for people to visit and enjoy the merry and iconic decorations of the White House’s annual Christmas holidays. “
Health professionals working within the administration do not advise large indoor gatherings.
“We want everyone to understand that these festive parties can be extremely scattered events,” U.S. General Surgeon Jerome Adams told ABC News in a Monday interview, calling for the celebrations to be held outdoors with as few people as possible and pointing to U.S. recommendations. . Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
“These apply to the White House, the American people, everyone,” Adams said.
Nevertheless, it seemed as if many Americans had not heeded the advice. While the number of air passengers in the U.S. is still down about 60 percent from a year ago, federal transportation officials reported on Monday that most passengers have been screening passengers since March.
