While there was no response from Obama’s office to inquiries, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, “This event is taking place in the open air according to all public reports.” Obama is also a big advocate of vaccination.
There was severe criticism from the Republicans. “If this were Trump’s birthday, Democrats would say,” How can someone be so reckless? “Wrote Congressman and Trump supporter Jim Jordan on Twitter. “Will the Democrats require him to all of his guests wear masks?” Tweeted Congressman Lance Gooden.
The Republicans had come under fire several times for holding large events in 2020 at the height of the pandemic without complying with the corona rules. In particular, an event in honor of Chief Justice Amy Coney Barrett is suspected to have been a superspreader event.
Meanwhile, the number of new infections is increasing significantly. On Saturday alone there were 72,000, an increase of 44 percent compared to the previous week and higher than the high in summer 2020, said the head of the US health authority CDC, Rochelle Walensky. The number of hospital admissions has increased by 41 percent and the number of deaths has risen to 300 per day, which means an increase of 25 percent. The seven-day incidence most recently climbed to 180.7.
Wuhan tests population
In response to the delta variant of the virus, which is also spreading in China, the former pandemic epicenter of Wuhan is now having its entire population tested. As the state people’s newspaper reported, the authorities of the eleven million metropolis made the decision after the first three infections in the city had been recorded for a year.
After an outbreak at Nanjing Airport two weeks ago, the delta variant is spreading to more and more cities in China. So far, more than 400 infections with the variant have been reported nationwide. Mass tests are carried out in many places. Travel has also been restricted in parts of the country.
