White House Insists Holiday Gala Will Be Safe From COVID-19

A spokesperson for first lady Melania Trump said Tuesday that the upcoming holiday celebration at the White House will adhere to COVID safety guidelines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week advised against traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday and to limit celebrations to only those in the immediate household. If in-home gatherings are held, the CDC is urging people to do so with limitations in place.

A copy of the invitation obtained by USA Today makes no mention of face masks or other social restrictions meant to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. But Stephanie Grisham, the chief of staff and spokeswoman for the first lady, said safety precautions are advised for would-be attendees, including wearing a face mask.

“The People’s House will celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah while providing the safest environment possible,” Grisham said, according to USA Today.

Reuters carried additional statements from Grisham outlining the precautionary measures for the holiday event.

“Guests will enjoy food individually plated by chefs at plexiglass-protected food stations,” she said. “All passed beverages will be covered.”

The president and Melania are staying at the White House rather than traveling to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, according to USA Today.

Holiday travel levels are on the rise. Motor club AAA reported Monday that it expected road travel to be lower than last year as many families opt to spend their holiday plans at home. But air travel is high, with the Transportation Security Administration reporting that 917,354 people moved through its checkpoints on Monday and more than 1 million on Friday.