据一位知情人士透露,由于担心新冠肺炎三角洲变种病毒的传播,前总统巴拉克·奥巴马将于本周末在马萨诸塞州的玛莎葡萄园岛举办数百名客人的60岁生日派对。
一名COVID协调员将确保所有疾病控制和预防中心、州和地方的指导方针在聚会上得到遵守,消息人士说,这次聚会将在户外举行。
消息人士称,客人将被要求在参加聚会前向协调员提交新冠肺炎检测呈阴性的证明。
根据疾控中心的数据,马萨诸塞州杜克斯县的玛莎葡萄园岛目前被认为处于“中等”传播风险水平。
爱可信首先报道了聚会的细节。
尽管计划努力确保一个安全的事件,党后新冠肺炎病例的大规模爆发发生在100英里外的马萨诸塞州普罗温斯敦,导致800多人感染,至少7人住院。
官员们说,受感染的普罗温斯敦集群中有74%的人接种了疫苗。
据一名白宫官员称,乔·拜登总统不打算参加这次聚会。
这位政府官员说:“虽然拜登总统本周末无法出席,但他期待着尽快与前总统奥巴马会面,并适当欢迎他加入60多岁俱乐部。拜登计划在特拉华州雷霍伯海滩的家中度过周末。
白宫新闻秘书珍·普萨基周一表示:“我首先要指出,前总统奥巴马一直大力倡导个人接种疫苗。
她指出,疾控中心目前关于掩蔽的指导仅适用于高传播风险区或高传播风险区的室内环境。
“此外,还有测试要求和他们正在采取的其他步骤,”普萨基补充道。
奥巴马夫妇已经确定了各种慈善机构,供客人考虑支持,而不是赠送生日礼物,包括我哥哥的守护者联盟、女孩机会联盟和奥巴马基金会的全球领导力项目。
Obama to host hundreds at 60th birthday party amid COVID concerns
Former President Barack Obama will host hundreds of guests at his 60th birthday party this coming weekend on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts amid concerns about spreading the delta variant of COVID-19, according to a source familiar with the plans.
A COVID coordinator will ensure all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local guidelines are followed at the party, the source said about the affair, which will be held outdoors.
Guests will be required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test to the coordinator before attending the party, the source said.
Martha's Vineyard, an island in Dukes County, Massachusetts, is currently considered at a "moderate" level of transmission risk, according to CDC data.
Axiosfirst reported on details of the party.
Despite the planned effort to ensure a safe event, the party comes after amajor breakout of COVID-19 cases abut 100 miles away in Provincetown, Massachusetts,which left more than 800 people infected, resulting in at least 7 hospitalizations.
Officials said 74% of those in the infected Provincetown cluster were vaccinated.
President Joe Biden is not planning to attend the gathering, according to a White House official.
"While President Biden is unable to attend this weekend, he looks forward to catching up with former President Obama soon and properly welcoming him into the over 60 club," the administration official said. Biden is scheduled to spend the weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
"I would note first that former President Obama has been a huge advocate of individuals getting vaccinated," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday.
She noted the CDC's current guidance on masking pertains only to indoor settings in high or substantial transmission risk zones.
"In addition, there is testing requirements and other steps they're taking," Psaki added.
The Obamas have identified various charities for guests to consider supporting, rather than giving birthday gifts, including My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the Girls Opportunity Alliance, and the Obama Foundation’s Global Leadership programs.